I have never received a gift that was broken. But, today my sweet friend Abby presented me with a broken gift. It was a small green vase that possessed a big crack through its gentle frame. However, around the crack, beautiful pieces of gold were exposed. As she was presenting me the gift, Abby began to share with me the story of the art piece. 

The story of Kintsugi Art may have begun in the late 15th century, when the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa sent a damaged Chinese tea bowl back to China to be fixed. It returned held together by random pieces of ugly metal staples. Ashikaga thought it was an unacceptable fix. So, he challenged his Japanese craftsmen to find a better way to repair broken pieces and make them look as good as new or even better. They pulled all the staples from the bowl and repaired it using pieces of gold. To his surprise, the bowl looked better for being broken.

The Japanese art of Kintsugi repairs brokenness in a way that makes the object better for being broken. There will be times in our life when we experience brokenness. There will be hurt, fears, despair, failure, loss, pain, etc…that will leave scars or brokenness in our lives. And no matter what we do, those scars remain with us.

Throughout my times of brokenness, I have learned that I can either repair those breaks with ugly metal staples or with pieces of GOLD. With God, beauty always comes from ashes. He always uses the very best to mend a broken place. Through Him, we can look for the GOLD in our lives to connect and repair the breaks. When we do, we will discover that we are better, we are stronger, we sparkle, and “we are more beautiful for being broken.”

It is through the breaks that allows the beauty to shine through.

Wednesday, April 23

My 27 Thanks:

1. Good news. I began my day with some really good news. 
2. All things work together for good for those who Love God!
3. God is faithful.
4. His promises are yes and amen!
5. It is a most beautiful day.
6. My strength is renewed in Him today. 
7. Hope is alive.
8. My friend Debby cares so well for others. She has been helping a fellow friend who is going through a most difficult time. I am so glad we have Debby in our lives.
9. We had some family time this morning before heading to work and school.
10. Gary went grocery shopping for us today.
11. Today is my last working day of the week.
12. Even though I have had a short working week, I am caught up on my work…for this week anyway. 
13. Abby and I work well together. She makes my days at work even more enjoyable. 
14. I am surrounded by people in my life who just make life brighter and more enjoyable.
15. Possibilities.
16. We opened our Wednesday night service with a game to promote our offering challenge. It went well and the kids were so excited. 
17. The girls jumped in the lead tonight on the offering challenge. Frog may be buying them pizza after all! 
18. We have weekly opportunities to build relationships with kids.
19. Even though I hate conflict, I am thankful for it as well. Healthy conflict builds character, uproots bitterness, and brings to light anything the devil may be trying to brew in the dark. 
20. A soft answers always turns away wrath.
21. God has a way of exposing us. I always desire for my true character to be one of integrity and love. I appreciate moments when I am tested, then I can see areas that may not line up with where God would have me be or how He would have me respond. 
22. I don’t run away from conflict. I have grown in this area. I usually meet it head on and solve it before the day ends. 
23. There is wisdom in a multitude of counsel. 
24. We are getting much-needed rain.
25. Abby gave me a most sentimental birthday gift. It made my heart smile. She presented me with a green (my favorite color) vase that is broken. But, it is more beautiful now because of its brokenness. 
26. Beauty comes from brokenness.
27. We are stronger and more beautiful for being broken.