Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Broken Pieces

I love this blogging community, we share recipes, family celebrations and milestones, but sometimes life isn't picture perfect, blog worthy.  Sometimes life just stinks.  I think it's OK to blog about those moments, too.

One year ago my dear friend had her kids tragically taken from her by evil.  She was in the process of a divorce when evil thought he could ultimately break her by taking her kids from her.  Two precious lives were lost that gloomy day in November.  Evil was no longer something we watched on the news that happened in the big city.  It was our hometown in the headlines that day.  Parents had to explain something to their children about their friends that is really unexplainable.  And worse, my friend had to cope somehow without the two brightest lights in her life.  So many people were just broken that day, especially my friend.  Completely shattered.

A few days later my insightful friend, Lydia, told me about an Asian culture that repairs broken pottery by filling the cracks with gold. When Lydia told me that, I thought it sounded pretty, but didn’t really think much of it, and then I realized the value in that process.  It's been a year since this terrible tragedy, and many in our community still feel like a broken piece of pottery. When we break something, we often try to repair it, covering up any flaws. The Japanese culture took a precious metal and highlighted the brokenness. It didn’t try to cover up that it was once broken, but in a way said, “Here are my battle scars, I lived through it and I came back more beautiful!” Psalm 147:3 says, "He heals up the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." If we proclaim to believe in a Savior that can restore us into a new creation, we have to trust in Him to fill the cracks in our brokenness. 

If you're currently feeling broken, it's my prayer that you will let Christ completely repair and restore your scars with something more precious than gold.




Thanks for stopping by today!

Emily 

34 comments:

  1. Wow...highlighted by the brokenness. Emily, this is beautiful. Christ our healer, Christ our light! You shine so beautifully in his image sweet Emily!!

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  2. “Here are my battle scars, I lived through it and I came back more beautiful!” I love this, I coincidently blogged about failure/disappointment today and it's been on my mind a lot lately. We could all benefit from being more transparent and showing people our broken parts.

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    1. You're exactly right. Somehow we think we have to look pulled together all the time, when we would all be better off showing out brokenness & weaknesses a little more.

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  3. Oh, Emily. I cannot even fathom what your friend went through and is still going through. My heart just breaks for her and for you and for everyone else who has been affected by this tragedy. Praying for peace for all of you. I hope that they were able to get justice for those sweet babies.

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    1. Thank you, Lindsay! I know she would appreciate the prayers!

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  4. Tears friend. I needed to read this today. Thank you for sharing this with us and I will be praying for your friend and those around her that are supporting her.

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    1. Thank you, Beth! I almost didn't post this...I like cheerful, happy posts, but sometimes I just want to share what's on my heart. Glad you got something out of it! :)

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  5. Oh, I can't even imagine dealing with that loss. Even as a community, it would be devastating. I'm so sorry!

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    1. Yes, Tanya! We're a small town & this affected so many, especially my sweet friend & her family.

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  6. I still remember that day like it was yesterday. I love the story of how the Asian culture makes something beautiful out of broken pottery. Praying you and your community today!

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    1. Thanks, friend! Even though it's been a year, it's still so fragile for so many. She's on my mind & in my prayers constantly.

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  7. Emily... what a thoughtful way of taking something so horrific and turning it around and put some healing and beauty in the picture. What a horrible thing to live through. Your friend is so lucky to have such a wonderful kind person such as yourself in her life.

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  8. Beauty from ashes, my Friend! This reminds me of Angie Smith's testimony of losing her sweet Caroline. Prayers for everyone!

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    1. Yes! I had the privilege of hearing Angie speak a few years ago. She has an amazing testimony of strength and faith!

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  9. Oh Emily, I am so sorry to hear about your friend. What an awesome way to display our brokenness. Thank you for sharing

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  10. Thank you for sharing your thoughts today, Em. I know you all still grieve for your friend and the loss of her sweet children. So tragic. But this is a beautiful reminder of how God can and will continue to work in and through us despite our flaws and brokenness if we let Him. I think I may have to find a bowl like this as a daily reminder! Love you!

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    1. Thank you! That's a great idea! I'll be on the look out for one of those bowls, too!

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  11. This is a beautiful post friend. How terribly tragic. I have a friend who lost her daughter 3 years ago and she has been such a beautiful example of showing her brokenness but showing how God can provide the strength to use her brokenness for good and get her through each day.

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    1. Thanks, Shelly! Prayers for your friend, too!

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  12. I love the symbolism of that Asian culture. I can't even imagine the loss of my children but I definitely empathize.

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    1. I love the symbolism, too! The bowl is more beautiful with character! :)

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  13. Em, that's a powerful illustration of God's healing abilities! Love you!

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    1. Thanks! I don't know if healing is the right word, but whatever the process, it'll be a long one for so many.

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  14. What a beautifully written post for such an unthinkable tragedy. Sending prayers and gold-plated positive vibes your friend's way.

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  15. Oh friend. My heart literally ached for your friend reading this. I do pray for all of those cracks, for the brokenness. God is the ultimate healer and provides peace that passes understanding. I am praying for that over each of you today.

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    1. Thanks, Crystal! I know this family is appreciative of all the prayers.

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  16. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. What a tragic situation. It's hard to recover from something like that.

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    1. You're exactly right. Recover, heal, restore...I'm sure those words don't even begin to explain the process my friend is going through. She's an admirable woman, that's for sure!

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