When reading a grief quote last week, the phrase ended with "we will hold your memory in our hearts forever". When I thought about it, actually we won't hold you in our hearts forever, but in our minds forever. Our brains.
Who came up with the commonly accepted phrase of "keeping a loved one in our hearts"? And since I've heard that phrase all of my life, I assume that "in our hearts" has been around for a long time.
I suppose that it has to do with a heart often depicts love (on paper), and it is an easy transition to " I will love you forever". It's a pretty common sight on Valentine's Day to see a heart with the words "I love you" inside of it, so it just kind of slipped over to a thought on grief as well.
On that particular day when I read the quote, it just struck me as odd when I took the phrase so literally.