Pain and joy

Linda left a comment on yesterday's post. Near the end of her comment, she reminded us that "healing comes from God."

That's an aspect of the image of Noah's callused hand that I missed. Healing.

Calluses are formed by repeated friction in the same spot. Too much friction in too short a time will form a blister. A callus is formed over time as the skin becomes thickened. In a way it is protection against the repeated potential of injury.
Our hearts are hardened, protected from injury, just as Noah's hand did because of repeated work. It's a protective mechanism, but it's not the most healthy way to protect our hearts. God heals our calluses, opening us up to both pain and joy.