There’s something about the crushing of our hearts that somehow draws us closer to the heart of Jesus. I can’t help think of the crushing of an olive that results in the blessing of olive oil flowing.

Well sometimes in the midst of heartache and pain, we experience the sweetness of the compassion of Jesus. Brennan Manning, one of my favourite authors made a statement that is etched in my heart, “You are never more like Jesus than when you are choked with compassion for the brokenness of others”.

There’s something about the choking of compassion that makes me feel vulnerable, humbled and acquainted with the suffering of others, like I feel their pain and compassion flows. It is bitter and it’s sweet, painful and glorious ... reminds me of the words of Jesus “those who share in My sufferings shall also share in My glory”.

I saw a picture zoomed in on the cupped open hands of Jesus very gently and tenderly holding broken hearts. Then I noticed in the background there were piles of broken hearts scattered everywhere, almost like a rubbish dump full of broken hearts. In an instant I realised that the world is full of broken hearts, longing to be healed. As I meditated on this I envisioned a warm glow of light, energy, power, fusing the cracks in the broken hearts as a large tear dropped from the eyes of Jesus and washed over them.

He is Compassion. He is Love. He knows our pain and has come to bind up the brokenhearted.

Go and do likewise.