One of the things I love about kids is how they truly believe their parents are capable of anything. Well, at least for many children. Certainly for mine. There are times my son asks us questions like, “Mom, have you ever gone into space?” or “Dad, how long ago did you play with the Buffalo Bills?” and we are reminded of how he sees us – limitless, bigger than life, out of this world. What an honor, and what a responsibility.
It’s incredibly humbling to realize how a small person looks at you, and looks up to you. Sometimes people let that admiration stop short as a mere ego boost, but for me it’s always driven my decisions and brought me such awareness to the intentional example I set. Throughout my entire life, it’s helped me be a better person at times when I am sure I would have made worse decisions had I not known a smaller pair or two of eyes were watching.
One of the regular occurrences in our house now is a toy or headband or bracelet or action figure getting broken. When one of the kids used to tell me that something had been broken, I would always say, “Okay, just put it on my desk where I’ll see it so that I don’t forget to fix it when I can.” This has happened so many times now that the kids know to just put the broken item on my desk and usually don’t even tell me anymore. I just discover the pieces on my desk.
One of these moments occurred last night. I was out to coffee with a friend for a while and when I returned, it was time to get the kids ready for bed. They put on their pajamas, brushed their teeth, I helped them floss and then it was time for me to turn off most of the lights throughout the house. When I went into the front room to turn off the only lamp still on, I looked upon my desk and there were two lego pieces – a lego man and his arm. Apparently, it had broken while I had been out.
Instantly, I took a photo because of the reflection the Lord brought to my mind.
I love that my kids know that when something is broken, they can bring it to me, often now without even a word, and just lay it right where they know I’ll see it. They can trust that if I can take care of it, I will, and although it may not be right away, I will absolutely pay attention to their need. I was humbled to know that they realize this, and was so very thankful.
But more so, I am thankful that the Lord wants us to be this way, too. When we have something broken in our lives, whether it was our fault or not, He wants us to lay it before Him. In Matthew 11:23, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” We don’t need to try to hide from Him, or be afraid of how He’ll react. We can bring all that is broken before Him, without trying to hide it, and we can ask for His help to fix it. We don’t even need to get into it about how it all happened or what may have caused it. He already knows, and He knows our hearts better than we know ourselves. He just wants us to bring it to Him. To lay all the pieces before Him.
When I saw the lego pieces, of course I immediately knew how quick a fix it was. An easy snap of that arm back in place. But to my kids, it was something they weren’t able to fix on their own. Do you know how much easier our problems are when we allow God to get involved? When we don’t try to hide it away in another room, seemingly out of sight, or wrench and try and cry and fail to resolve the issue – often making it even bigger with a temporary band-aid, a distraction or an exhausted and defeated belief that it just can’t get any better.
Even when something broken cannot be so easily repaired or remedied, reconciled or restored, it does the soul good to know that it’s been seen. Just to know that our Loving Parent is aware, is watching, is there to provide what He knows we need, at just the right time. To trust Him with all of it. Psalm 147:3 tells us that “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
We all have areas of brokenness in our lives, areas that are stretched thin, perhaps cracking a bit. Areas that are hurting perhaps due to no wrongdoing of our own. Areas where the Lord can continue to mold and refine us into the truly faithful servants who will fit right into His heavenly home when He calls us there someday. Bring them before the Lord. Bring yourself before the Lord. And allow Him to do what only He can.
And a day is coming when He will indeed restore everything (Acts 3:21.) Until then, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13.)
Isaiah 40:31,
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