Growing up in Hawaii, I didn’t have to wear shoes to school until the fifth year. 

This meant that for all those years, I never wore shoes at all. And I didn’t need them, because the soles of my feet were as tough as any shoe leather. 

Whether I was walking on the rough asphalt of the street or the coarse sand of the beach, my feet were so calloused that I never felt any discomfort. But I also missed out on the joy of the springy softness of a lush lawn under my toes. Hardened soles lose all feeling, for good or ill.

The same can be true of our hearts. As feet can be toughened by years of contact with rough surfaces, our hearts can be hardened through years of contact with the rocky road of life’s experiences. 

We can become so tough and cynical that we have trouble experiencing the joy of God’s love and acceptance. Our souls can become so hardened by turning away from pain—our own and that of others—that there is no longer any room in our hearts for the joy we can find in Christ.

When we see areas of our lives where we have become insensitive, we can pray and read God’s word to allow him to show us ways to reach out to others and share Christ’s love.

Prayer: Dear Father, soften our hearts so we can accept you and your joy in our lives. Amen