Gratitude is not only the memory, but the homage of the heart rendered to God for his goodness. Nathaniel Parker Willis
The word render means to interpret, to set forth, to represent, or to exhibit. An actor renders his part. A singer renders a passage of music with great effect. A painter renders a scene with grace and truth.
The word render appears in the Bible approximately 111 times.
But what does it truly mean for the soul? Is rendering the act of delivering something? A message, perhaps?
Or is it the sacred act of surrendering—of yielding one’s heart to something greater?
I can relate to this word on many levels. Throughout my amazing spiritual journey, I have been rendered speechless many times. I have surrendered my heart— and I have been asked to deliver a message.
A message not meant for me alone, but one given to share— a divine gift from a soul I have grown to love with all that I am. It was a message that seemed simple, yet deeply mysterious. Hidden within the folds of my soul, only He had the power to unlock it. He gently and methodically unbound my heart.
I had never felt a love so deep, so intense—a love that could not be contained.
And as I wrestled with the question, Why me?
I felt so inadequately equipped to deliver something so beautiful. But as I listened to my Creator’s gentle persuasion, I learned to trust Him wholeheartedly.
He taught me to love without boundaries, to laugh again, to see beauty in every day. He gave me the gift of people—some who appeared only for a fleeting moment, others who stayed to walk beside me and learn more about this Love. Each one played a part in growing this divine gift. Some taught me forgiveness. Some taught me joy. All taught me life. My heart changed. My love deepened. And His message grew stronger within me each day. I stopped worrying about what others might think.
Then one pivotal day, I threw caution to the wind—and decided to live life large. By rendering my heart and soul to the One who gave me life,
I realized I had been soulfully lost—And he was the only answer. He had been chasing me for so long. And one day, on a quiet country road in Middle Tennessee, I must have finally stood still long enough to hear my Shepherd’s voice calling my name.
And it made me wonder…Was I the “one” He spoke of in Luke 15:4?
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?”
He knew it was time to capture my heart. He knew I desperately needed Him. He knew my heart was finally ready—ready to receive His love, and to love Him back with the same beautiful intensity.
It’s Him. It has always been Him.
He renders me speechless.
And they were astonished above measure, saying, He does all things well; he makes both the deaf to hear, and the speechless to speak. Mark 7:37
Photography & Written by Lori Garner
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