When a baby is born they are often placed straight onto their mother’s chest – skin to skin and heart to heart. Father’s and their babies also benefit from this close contact and the bonding and connection process that occurs because of this contact. It brings comfort, protection and trust.
We all benefit from having healthy loving relationships where we have heart to heart connections. Connection means having a heart to heart bond, but for this bond to last it must be protected and strengthened.
To do that we choose everyday to:
Be transparent and let people see the real us. That doesn’t mean we have to leave our heart’s wide open to just anyone, but it’s knowing who to have in our close circle of disclosure and trust, and then choosing to take the steps to let other’s enter our world, rather than being guarded or shutting down all the time.
To build heart to heart connections we have to let people into our hearts and lives. We start with the small things and then gradually build our trust and disclosure. We discover each other’s likes, dislikes, fears and concerns, habits, beliefs, values, dreams, and strengths and weaknesses and let them know ours. Not everyone we meet will be those we will build close heart to heart bonds with, but if we learn how to be transparent and confident in who we are we will attract the people into our lives we can ultimately build close connections with. Plus we will quickly learn to discern those we need to treat with kindness and respect, but perhaps not hold so close.
Being transparent means letting people know what we are thinking, feeling and believing for. We make the choice to communicate, rather than backing away from connecting.
God also desires for us to know His heart and to be able to share with us. However just as in human relationships we have to choose to be transparent, open and desiring to go deeper, we must also be transparent with Him. I’ve discovered that if I am open and honest with God, I am far more likely to have deeper connections with the people around me. This is because my stability, security and confidence are foremost founded in my relationship with God, which then flows out to every other bond I have.
Today take some time to be honest with yourself and God. Have a heart to heart with Him, and spend time building into a relationship that will enhance and deepen every other meaningful connection in your life.
“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” (Psalm 86:15)
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
Prayer: Lord help me to be honest and transparent with you, and that as I do I will learn how to be open and transparent with others around me. Would you please send those people into my world that I can have heart to heart relationships with. In Jesus name Amen.