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My parents always sliced a watermelon when I was young. 

We kids would grab a slice, sit on the porch together, and begin a seed-spitting competition. Definitely a happy childhood memory. At some point, when I became an adult and paid for my own watermelons, I decided scooping watermelon into a dish was my preferred way to eat it. Slices were too messy.

Once, while we were staying with my in-laws, I bought a watermelon and helped myself to some in my usual way. Later that evening, my father-in-law took the foil off the partially eaten watermelon sitting in the fridge and with great shock asked, "Who took the heart right out of the watermelon?"

I said, "Umm … me." I realized too late he was old-school and thought scooping the heart out of a watermelon was the wrong way to eat it. He might be right.

The heart—the pure heart—is the best part. When it's gone, the rest of the watermelon is not quite the same. It's still good, but it gets more distasteful the further you get from the heart and the closer you get to the bitter rind. What's left gets thrown out.

Sometimes, we do the same in life. We take the best part and leave the rest. I guess it's human nature. We give of ourselves until we have nothing left—taking care of our homes, families, spouses, and jobs. Then we walk around feeling empty because the heart is gone. That's a tough place to be. Empty, numb, and sometimes bitter.

When we get so far from the heart of things, we just want to get the sweetness of life back—to get back to the heart of it all. If asked, God will create a new spirit in us. He gives the best part instead of taking it.

When we have nothing left, and it seems all the good parts have been scooped out, God fills us up again—to overflowing.

God never fails. Trust Him.

(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)

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