There we were, at our beautiful resting place. It is where our Master wanted us to be. Where He kept us and where we lived happily together. We loved our Master. He was so kind, full of love and he took good care of us. He cleaned us anytime we were covered with filth – all without complaining. He always ensured that we were safe.
And a day came when Master was going on a journey. He gave us some laws to follow which were contained in this big beautiful Book so that we would not have any problems while He was away.
“Why don’t we go out and see how the rest of the place is?” said Knife. “But the Master gave us clear instructions not to leave our resting place. Leaving would be going against His laws! ” I replied. “The Master is not even here! He won’t know that we left. We’ll be back in no time, even before He returns!” He continued.
Knife was one convincing fellow so I gave in to the idea. After all, a little walk wouldn’t hurt, right? Hardly had we left our resting place when we slid and fell. And oh! the fall was a mighty one! “I’m broken!” I cried out. Looking at Knife, he had also fallen, but was in no way broken. Knife left me there stranded and broken. I called out to him to help me but it was all in vain. Perhaps that was his plan all along.
As if the state I was in wasn’t enough trouble for the day, I heard Master walk in. I couldn’t let him see me in that state of brokenness. He left clear instructions not to leave the resting place, but I violated them, and there I was, facing the consequences. “Let me hide from Him,” I said to myself.
“He would be so disappointed if he was to see me this way.” Then I heard Him call out to me, “Bowl… I’m back dear, where are you?” I couldn’t respond to Him, I was ashamed, I broke his rules and that left me broken!
Hours turned into days, days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, still hiding from Him. “Enough is enough!” I said. “Let me go back to the master, just as I am. He will know what to do.” And I returned to the resting place, to the Master. I was expecting to receive judgement and condemnation from Him, but to my surprise, He welcomed me warmly, with tears in His eyes. I explained everything to Him; how Knife deceived me into breaking His rules, how we fell and how I broke.
“Oh you little one! If only you knew how much I longed for you to come back to Me, and how much I love you. If only you knew how beautiful you are, even when broken. If only you would have come to Me and not hid yourself.” He said to me as He held me in His hands. “I Do Not Condemn You.” On hearing those words I burst into tears. What a loving Master! I now began seeing the beauty that He saw in me even in that state of brokenness. I started embracing the mess I was in, even as He was slowly repairing me, turning me into a masterpiece, His masterpiece!
Ever heard of kintsugi? It is a form of art that repairs broken pottery with gold, producing a new piece that is even more exquisite than it was before the breaking! It literally means to
join with gold. And that is exactly what my Master was doing with me. If only I had come back to Him immediately I fell! I came to see that the breaking was actually a blessing in disguise, because I came out better, stronger and more beautiful!
Similarly, We fall short of His glory and are left broken. Due to the shame and guilt of sin, we often delay in going back to Him. Other times we don’t even go back to Him at all! But He wants you, just as you are. His arms are open wide, waiting for you. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart He will not despise. (Psalm51:17) True brokenness is a tool by which God brings His wandering dear ones back into His loving arms. Come to Him dear one, even when ashamed, guilty, broken and in filth. Come to Him just as you are!!
Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, You will receive,
will welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because of Your promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
✿ Brenda Wanyama ✿
