Warm the Cockles of My Heart
To warm the cockles of my heart, something makes me happy.
I never use this expression. I do say something gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling. The two expressions mean almost the same. Deep inside, I feel:
- Good
- Content
- Warm
I have no cockles in my heart.
No one does. So how did this expression start? wiseGEEK and other sources offer these two possibilities:
- The “Latin description for the heart’s chambers, cochleae cordis.” Cockles became a slang word for cochleae.
- Mollusk shells (cockles) and the human heart have similar shapes. (See photo.)
They give other ideas, but these two seem most common.
The following warm the cockles of my heart:
- Children’s laughter
- Ocean waves
- Hugs
- Time with family and friends
- Labors of love
- Special memories
- People with hearts of gold
What about you?
What warms the cockles of your heart? Please comment below.
On Valentine’s Day and every day, may life warm the cockles of your heart.
“We know how dearly God loves us, and we feel this warm love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love” (Romans 5:5 TLB).
Thanks to Carole Fite for the suggestion.
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