More Value When Broken

I am not the most graceful person you've ever met.  I trip over a blade of grass.  And if I were to cry over spilled milk, the oceans couldn't contain the tears.  I've stubbed toes, bumped heads, slipped on ice, tripped down stairs and tripped up stairs.  I've stepped in ice fishing holes, and holes in second story floors, (picture a leg hanging down from the living room ceiling).  I've fallen out of boats, out of chairs, and out of bed.  I've dropped and broke plates, glasses, and other dishes.  I even did a number on my face during a sledding accident, a tale to tell in another blog for sure.  But out of all my “finer moments”, I'd like to share this one in particular.

I wasn't more than 4 years old at the time, not the prime of my clumsiness, but perhaps the beginning of it.  Dad had just bought Mom a milk glass China vase for their anniversary.  It was hand painted with dragons and floral designs.  You already know where this is going...  Although I don't recall how long it was a whole vase, I do know that it was in many pieces in a split second.  Dad didn't yell at me, or even make me stand in the corner.  He just started picking up the pieces.

Over time Dad and Mom reconstructed the vase.  Glued together piece by tiny fragile piece, until only one small dime sized hole remained.  It was then put up far from my reach, never to be broken again.  Mom loved that vase, maybe even more so after it was broken.  Sure, it will never sell at auction, but the memories that it pulls up this morning are priceless to me.

Isn't a bid odd that something of great value can be worth more when broken ?  Yet that is exactly how God views us.  When David wrote Psalm 51, which is often referred to as the Psalm of repentance, he came before God broken.  Powerful, popular,  King David truly seeing himself as needing the forgiveness, mercy, and the grace of God, in verse 17 writes, “a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” ( Psalm 51:17 )

Sometimes you feel hopeless, helpless, and like that China vase, broken into a million pieces.  And I'm here to tell you that, similar to my Dad, God is not going to yell at us, or make us stand in the corner.  He'll just start picking up the pieces.  He will help you put it all back together piece by piece.  When He's complete, we're even more valuable than when we were before.  So if you've had one of those days, weeks, or maybe even years when everything seems to be falling apart, may I suggest hope.  Hope that puts all the pieces together... not even leaving a dime sized hole.  Hope in Jesus.

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