Emotions Have Feelings Too

The heart is where we experience emotion. What people feel influences their decisions, reactions, and behavior. When a young man says to a woman, "I love you with all my heart," he means his emotions have helped guide his heart to commitment. But love isn't the only emotion in the heart. Anxiety, fear, and anger can turn a heart into a place of turmoil and distress; conversely, joy, peace, and love give a sense of well-being.

The Bible describes this emotional link. First Samuel 4:13 says that Eli's heart "feared" for the ark of God. Deuteronomy 1:28 says the spies who gave a bad report about the land discouraged the people's hearts. Psalm 61:2 speaks of an overwhelmed heart. In each case, emotions in the heart affected behavior.

It is true that many children decide what to do based on how they feel. They procrastinate because they feel unmotivated, react because they're angry, or give in to peer pressure to feel accepted. Through the everyday work of child training, parents help children learn that responsibility requires that we do things we don't feel like doing. Those who make decisions based only on how they fel often end up making poor choices.

A wise grandfather warned his grandchildren about falling in love. "you don't fall in love," he'd say. "You fall in ditches. You fall down stairs. You fall overboard. But you should plan your love life and choose carefully the person you're going to marry." This grandpa had a lot of wisdom. He understood that emotions are just one resource the heart contains for making decisions.

Nevertheless, the heart is where emotions are felt. Deep-seated needs are often experienced on an emotional level. Ultimately, God is the one who fulfills all of our needs, and he uses a number of tools to do so. God created the family to be a place where emotional needs are met. In fact, parents are a primary source for a child's emotional health, and how Dad and Mom relate to their children sets an important foundation.