I’m unashamedly drawn to the brokenhearted.
I’m affectionately moved by those who’ve been wounded.
I relate to their history.
Why? Because I have a history.
A history torpedoed with brokenness.
A history assailed with wounds.
Occasionally, a missile’s launched from afar.
Sometimes, however, they’re launched from up close.
We stand broken, wounded.
Even after blaming appropriately, we stand broken, wounded.
Our insecurities are magnified.
Our shame is intensified.
Words. Accusations. Insinuations.
All take their toll.
The slight slant on truth eats away at us.
The outright untruths cause some of us (me) to move inward.
Others explode outwardly.
Either way, we are broken, wounded.
We fight shame, trying to hold to what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable (Philippians 4:8).
We cling to truths such as never will I leave you; never will I forsake you (Hebrews 13:5, NIV).
We beg to experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand (Philippians 4:7).
As we fight, cling, beg, we remember…
We remember He HEALS our broken hearts.
We remember HE BANDAGES our wounds.
We remember that if HE knows the stars’ names, counting each one, He MUST know us ~ our name, our hurts, our wounds.
When we reflect on the stars and their significance, we remember HIS greatness, HIS power.
Then, HIS understanding…
He understands being broken.
He grasps being wounded.
He relates to us.
Surrender it!
The pain, hurt, shame, guilt.
Surrender it!
It isn’t easy, but it’s the only way to overcome it.
For HE says, “But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
He overcame the WORLD.
He will help us overcome anything.
one thousand gifts {plus} continues…
{1530} visits to Barnes & Noble…
{1531} chocolate chip cookie dough…
{1532} slow-moving mornings…
{1533} waking up even AFTER turning off the alarm…
{1534} unsolicited “I love you’s” from Alex…
{1535} a husband I can’t out-give…
{1536} ”my” end of the couch…
{1537} a flexible schedule…
{1538} an understanding church body…
{1539} being a social media missionary…
{1540} days when I don’t have to “push”, honoring my needs…
{1541} vulnerable friendships…
{1542} the conscious desire to overcome shame…
{1543} a wish to live for something greater than myself…
{1544} being reminded I’m a WIFE and MOTHER FIRST…
{1545} watching Alex learn and successfully take ALL his medicines by mouth in pill form…
{1546} having an impromptu concert…
…at Canyon Creek Baptist Church, Richardson, TX
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Translation: NLT (unless otherwise noted)
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Image courtesy of PINTEREST
