Encouragement

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Have you ever tried to repair a glass vase or something equally precious that had fallen and smashed on the floor? Those hundreds of bits and pieces form an almost impossible puzzle and it is only through hours of patience and determination that you can almost repair the vessel. Once repaired, it is never the same as it was before. Water leaks through the cracks, edges are rough and uneven. This is because you are trying to restore the broken item to its original state – which is impossible. The good news is that with a little creativity you can do so much more! Each little piece, when examined alone is seen for its own unique beauty. Together they can be used to build a new work of art, different to the first. I’ve seen beautiful art works where bits of glass were used to make mosaics, collages, mirrors, picture frames, and much more. Who could even tell what their original purpose had been? Would I have been that impressed with the glass chip when it was still part of a plate or window? Yet I marveled at its beauty as it hung proudly on a gallery wall.

In the past few years, I’ve had to pick up the pieces of a shattered life and recover from a divorce and other hardships. One by one I held broken pieces up to the light, trying to figure out where they belonged. Turning them this way and that, I struggled to fit them back into their original places to restore the person I once had been. Every now and then I’d spot a glint of sunlight reflecting off a sharp shard and I’d throw it away. Then at times, I’d find a piece that was different and I’d realize that this little piece was lovely. After almost two years of fruitless effort, I’ve come to the realization that the person I once had been can never be restored to her original state. But God has blessed me with a unique opportunity to take all these lovely little pieces and to build someone new. Little bits and pieces of me, that were invisible in the past, are now given a chance to shine.

It is painful to have your life shattered and it may seem impossible to pick up those pieces. Sometimes we don’t even know where to start. Any form of repair and reconstruction is a long process. But friend, know that it is also an opportunity to re-invent yourself to become the person you would like to be. It is a unique opportunity to look closely at the beautiful bits of you. To hold them up to the light and appreciate the way they shine. Don’t waste time trying to rebuild the past, rather appreciate this wonderful gift and build a whole new future! One that you would proudly hang on a gallery wall.

Keep smiling!

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