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I was talking today with a friend, that I don't see often enough btw, and our conversation turned to our trips to the beach and how in the past, we had spent our time searching for that perfect shell, often tossing the smaller, broken, or chipped ones to the side, without so much as a second glance. Thru that, she shared with me, that she has a large conch shell that is broken on one end, so that you can see the spirals, and beyond those into the inside of the shell....the inner part that, without it's imperfection you would have missed....Instantly, while she was talking and sharing how beautiful the inside of this shell is, how intricate, and delicate it is from that angle, my spirit began to see yet another God lesson....isn't it amazing how in everyday life, everyday conversation, everyday
"mundane-ness", He is speaking, reminding us how much He loves us.....
Broken....why does that word usually mean something is no longer of any use? How did we began to assign only one definition and not looking beyond that? According to Webster's, one of the meanings of broken is: "to bring from having a nature of wildness to a state of obedience"....yes, I know this is in reference to the act of 'breaking' an animal, such as a horse, but...hmmmm...dare I say it? Kind of reminds me of, well, to be honest....me. Before I truly began to understand walking out my faith, and learning the importance of submissiveness and humility, I have to admit, I had (and still do in some ways)-that "wildness" about me. I have made my share of mistakes, just ask most people that know me and I'm sure they would be happy to share a few, and along the way, I have become broken just like that shell. I am pretty sure, my " shell", isn't anything like what God had intended when he was hand forming me within my mother's womb. I know I am formed in His image, but life has a way of tossing me around, just like those waves have tossed her shell around, and along the way, chips and cracks occur. Today it ocurred to me that sometimes, I cause those breaks when I, like those wild horses, pull back and fight the "Hand" that leads me. But it also occurred to me, that like that shell, with those breaks comes healing, and if seen from His perspective, it is a beautiful thing. It becomes our story, our testimony of where we have traveled along this journey. And just like that shell, without the brokeness, without those parts of us being taken away, how can we see how delicate, how amazing, how intricate we are inside? How, no matter what mistakes we make, or what life deals us, given to Him, it doesn't change that part deep inside handcrafted by Him.
I don't know about you, but thinking of that shell, I am thankful for the broken areas of my life.....I remember reading somewhere that when a bone breaks, it grows back stronger than before, and I know that is true in my life, where He has broken me, and then in turned, healed me, I am stronger than I ever could have imagined. I can only hope that when you look at me from that angle, my broken angle, I hope to reflect Him, and His handiwork....and I can only hope that it can be said, "Look and see what the Lord has done".
Thankful for today's lesson that came by sharing with a sweet friend(thanks Janice).....thankful for His lessons that come out of the ordinary......and hoping for the opportunity to search for "broken" shells.....onward to the next day of this journey.....but for the Grace of God, go I........
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