Heart of Stone, Heart of Flesh

Monday, February 22, 2021

Thank you, God, for answering my prayers promptly again! When I woke up this morning, I asked St. Padre Pio (whose amazing biography I’m in the middle of reading) to pray for you to soften my heart, so that I would become gentler, kinder, more humble, more loving, more patient, and less judgmental.

Minutes later, I walk into the office to check my phone, and today’s Bible verse pops up:

I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)

God, I’ve seen you do this many times now, but you still blow me away. Wow. Just wow.

***

After showering and getting dressed, I’m about to walk from my home office into the kitchen to make some coffee and am stopped by an extremely sharp, stabbing pain in my chest. I pause, wondering if I am having a heart attack. But then my eyes fall on the Padre Pio book, and he seems to be saying, “Not a heart attack. God is replacing your heart of stone with a heart of flesh.”

It’s not the first time the good Padre has “spoken” to me like that. Since I started on his biography, I’ve had very vivid dreams in which he talks to me—conversations that, unfortunately, fade to nothing as soon as I awaken.

Dear Padre Pio, if you can see and hear me, will you please accept me as your spiritual daughter and guide me so I’ll know how to do God’s will? (And then actually do it too.) Please help me increase in holiness, kindness, and love. Please help me do in-person charity and service, which is hard for me since I tend to be socially awkward and shy. Thanks for the support!