"Silver Threads and Golden Needles"

In 1956, Jack Rhodes and Dick Reynolds wrote the song “Silver Threads and Golden Needles” first sung by Wanda Jackson.  Recording artists such as Skeeter Davis, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn made the song a top seller.  However, everyone still came to the same conclusion:  Even silver threads and golden needles cannot mend a broken heart.  But is that really true?

The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine scientists have discovered that “emotional shock can trigger sudden, reversible heart failure that is not a classic heart attack.”  Emotional shock such as realizing the unexpected death of a loved one can result in the release of enormous amounts of catecholamines into the blood stream along with other breakdown products and small proteins.  These chemicals can temporarily be toxic to the heart and cause symptoms normally associated with a typical heart attack including chest pain, and shortness of breath.  They have called this “Broken Heart Syndrome” and it can mimic a real heart attack.  It is not a real heart attack but feels like it.  

Sometimes the loss of a loved one can feel like our heart has broken in two.  Most people try to offer sympathetic advice such as time heals all wounds.  However, time does not always heal a broken heart.  The question than becomes, “Who can mend a broken heart?”  Can friends mend a broken heart?  Can a new lover mend a broken heart?  Can Dr. Phil mend your broken heart?   

Sometimes, broken hearts cannot be mended by human intervention.  Our heart will need to be repaired by the One who gave us our heart.  The One who said these words from Psalm 147:3:   “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”  In Luke 4:18, Jesus says He was anointed to, “heal the brokenhearted.”  

The Lord will never turn away a broken heart.  When we humble ourselves before God with raised hands toward heaven and cry out to our Lord Jesus Christ, He will hear our words and feel our tears.  Can a broken heart be mended?  Yes it can.  “For with God nothing will be impossible.”  Luke 1:37