TINY TUESDAY - LITTLE WOODEN HEARTS

These are the little wooden hearts I give out randomly each day - often at the Community Fridge - and were originally in a cellophane pack, not a box - all 200 of them.  I ran out last week, so purchased more a few days ago and have spent the last hour or so writing on them.

As you will see they have Love, Joy, Peace and Hope written on them and I am constantly amazed when I give them to people that they look at the tiny heart in their palm and say “That’s just what I need”.  I don’t look at the hearts before I give them - in fact, they are just in my pocket and I pull them out randomly.  

Interestingly, we followed a couple, probably in their thirties and both heavily tattooed, around Sainsbury’s a few weeks ago.  We appeared to be following one another quite closely, so when I couldn’t find something, sensing that they normally shopped at Sainsbury’s, I asked if she knew where the coffee was situated.  Then ensued a very pleasant conversation about the different coffee and which was best etc.  As we were about to leave them, I got out two hearts and gave them to the couple, thanking them for their help, whereupon the lady told me that she definitely needed peace in her life!  I hope and pray she has been blessed with that.

All I do is ask them to open their hand and gently put a heart into the palm - close their fingers over the heart and say, “That’s to bless you.”  I don’t make a big thing of it, but then just go on my way and often pray that whatever they are needing will be provided.  

Often people hug me, sometimes they even cry, but no-one has ever refused a heart.  I believe I need to keep on doing this and after using this 200, I have another bag to replace it.  Mr. HCB is quite used to me giving these to complete strangers now;  I know it’s not his thing, but I enjoy the contact with people.

We often judge people by what they wear, what tattoos they have, how their children are behaving, what food they buy and many other things, but I pray that I will be less judgmental of those I meet day by day, remembering our sermon on Sunday, in which Chris quoted from Matthew 7 : 

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 
     For in the same way you judge others, 
          you will be judged, and with the measure you use, 
               it will be measured to you.....
You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, 
     and then you will see clearly 
          to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”  

I confess I need what is written on those hearts, Love, Joy, Peace and Hope and I guess if we all admitted our need and practised giving these things away - not necessarily as I do, but just being kind to those we meet, then this world would be a very different place.