For most, the heart is a symbol of love. For us, it was more than love, it was the rhythm of our married and family life.
When we found out we were pregnant with our first son, our hearts burst with happiness. In the second month, when I started bleeding heavily and the doctor told us to prepare for a possible miscarriage, our hearts sank with worry.
As we watched the ultrasound and saw our baby being very still, our hearts filled with fear. As the technician zoomed in and we saw one pixel on the screen turning on and off, our hearts felt relieved seeing our baby’s heart beating.
When we were pregnant with our second son, our first son listened to the baby in my belly using a stethoscope Ed’s sister had given us. He would say, “Boom boom, baby heart beat.” He giggled. Our hearts felt playful.
Throughout our married life, when worries crept in, I would put my head on Ed’s chest and listen to the calming sounds of his beating heart. My heart relaxed, and I felt so safe.
When my grown sons come to visit, I hug them tightly. Since they are taller than I am, my ear is pressed against their chests. I hear their hearts beating. My heart feels joyful and so very loved.
Now that Ed has gone ahead of me, I’m comforted realizing that Ed and my sons taught me to come to the heart for calm, comfort and joy. Now, in my mind, I put my head on Jesus’ chest like the apostle John did. I listen to Jesus’ Sacred Heart. Jesus soothes me and fills me with peace and hope.
Jesus, please help me keep coming to your Sacred Heart again and again.
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Leonor “Leo” and Ed Rivera were members of the local Worldwide Marriage Encounter community for 32 of their 34 years of marriage until Ed unexpectedly died of a genetic heart defect on Aug. 1, 2020.
The next 2026 Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend is Nov. 20-22 at Notre Dame Retreat House in Canandaigua.
Tags: Catholic Marriage
