How can you melt a frozen heart?

Recently one morning upon awakening, I glanced outside my window like I do each and every day. The scene that unfolded in front of my eyes begged me to grab my camera and head outdoors.

Temperatures plummeted during the night and Jack Frost had made his appearance on the landscape. The sun was already up, it beat me by an hour, and sunlight streamed across our 2+ acre yard. I noticed that its warming rays left patterns of a sort upon the grass.  

With camera in hand, I snatched a warm sweatshirt with a hood out of the closet, slipped on some shoes, and headed out into the chilly morning.  I’m always intrigued by the first few frosts of the season and enjoy the challenge of capturing the crystal-like covering adorning plants and grass.

But that day my eye caught something more than frosted vegetation (if you missed my post yesterday, you can see those photos here).  As always, pictures speak to me and the source of inspiration comes not just from the photo but from God, who presents these sights for me to capture in photos and words.   

He often shows me something to ponder, some truth from His Word, some point He impresses upon me that I must share with my readers in the hope that you too will see His handiwork, hear His Word, know that He is Master of the universe yet Savior of our souls.

As I tiptoed around my yard, not wanting to leave footprints from the warmth of my steps upon the frost, I breathed in that crisp, invigorating fall air.  The temperature hovered in the low 30’s F, yet the sunshine warmed my face.

I watched the sun as it continued to rise in the sky tinted a vivid blue.  With each degree of ascension, the sun’s rays reached more and more of my yard. 

As the warmth of the sun hit the ground, the frost disappeared.  Yet areas shaded by our house where sunlight had not touched still remained frosty white.

While sunlight continued to radiate across the yard, I watched the frost melt, strip by strip.  And that’s when it occurred to me.

That scene I spied resembles our hearts.  We allow the trouble and evil that so often prevails in this world to turn our hearts cold and icy, especially in the darkness. 

If you’ve ever met a cold-hearted person, the chill extends to you.  You feel it.  You shiver from even being in contact with someone whose heart is frozen over with hate,  rage, bitterness, or evil doings. 

If you’re not careful and don’t guard your own heart, that stone-cold, icy environment envelops you as well. It can happen without you even realizing it.

One icy breath across your heart and it starts to freeze.

And that morning, the Lord brought to my attention that I was succumbing to the cold.  I’ve encountered those with cold, callous, stony hearts and in my own anger, frustration, and disappointment with them, I didn’t guard my own heart from the icy grips of frost.

As a believer in Jesus Christ, I know this.  I know to be on guard against evil and sinful thoughts.  I know that whoever ‘hardens their hearts falls into trouble.’ (Proverbs 28:14)

But I also know that even the coldest, iced-over heart can be melted by warmth, just like that frost that disappeared gradually from my back yard when touched by the sun. 

And that’s the answer – the Son.  The Son of God.  Jesus.  The reason we celebrate this season called Christmas.  The time when the Light of the world came to earth.   That Light who melts the frost and ice in my heart.  That Light on which I must keep my focus to maneuver through the darkness of this fallen world of ours.

The words written in the book of John, Chapter 8, verse 12 come to my mind as I write this.  “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ ”

My hope and prayer this day is for those who are walking in darkness.  May they see and be touched by the Light.  May they allow the Son to melt the ice in their hearts.  And may I do the same.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

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