A Broken Heart

Valentine’s Day looms just around the corner causing many to feel lonely, unloved, or experiencing broken hearts. Maybe because year after year, they still lack a significant other to celebrate with or exchange all the valentine paraphernalia. Maybe they live in torn, abusive, or unlovable relationships that make this special day unbearable. Maybe this day brings memories of a love one gone home causing their hearts to break.

Whatever the situation, a well-known song by Tina Turner posed the question that many ask when hearts get broken. “What’s Love Got to do with it?” Pay attention to the lyrics of the chorus.

Oh-oh, what's love got to do, got to do with it?
What's love but a second-hand emotion?
What's love got to do, got to do with it?
Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?

 I chuckle every time I think of this song.  I performed a mini–Tina Turner concert at the engagement party we planned for my dear friend Sylvia Stewart years ago.  This song concluded the act. (Since this debut, I performed the act, wig and all, a few more times for church events…go figure…but those days ended).

See, my version of the song always answered the question posed in the chorus. “What's love got to do, got to do with it?”

Answer: Love’s got everything to do with it!

“Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?”  

Answer: We do!

Yes, a heart can be broken, but because God is love, and since Psalm34: 18 says, “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted,” love comes along and mends that broken heart. A broken heart can get you close to the Lord. He specializes in healing it. And not just on Valentine’s Day, but every day of the year. In fact, God tells you He loves you constantly. You can hear it every day, every hour, every minute…written in the Bible—His love letter to you.

Real love goes beyond mere words. It requires action. A man can say “I love you” today, and the next day, his emotions change and the love goes. Or he can just mouth the words, but cease to demonstrate the sentiment.

But with God, love is not a second-hand emotion. God loved you so much that He took action. He chose you and gave His Son as a ransom for you. Jesus loved you so much that He died on the cross to redeem you and left the Holy Spirit to help you. The Holy Spirit loved you so much that He sealed you until the day of redemption and lives in you to help you navigate through life.  Love’s got everything to do with it!

So, don’t settle for a second-hand emotion. Fall in love with a love that doesn’t fluctuate.  A love that offers more than just flowers and candy on a given day. A love that demonstrates eternal devotion to you.  A love that can never be lost.  A love that stays for all eternity. A love that will never break your heart, but can mend it when it gets broken.

I don’t know about you, but I’m glad I know the answer to the age-old question: “What's love got to do it?” Knowing that God’s love has everything to do with it, I am assured that when my heart breaks, Jesus stands ready and willing to draw near to me so that I can receive the healing that only He can give.  Why? Simply…

Happy Valentines Day

*** Shortly after I wrote this, my heart broke as my mother transitioned into Heaven. Only God’s love can mend my broken heart ***