Broken Ornament (Re-post)

I decorate with the end in mind. Not the "Oh my, how beautiful your house looks," end. I decorate with the "how long is it going to take me to put all this stuff away?" end. To say I am a minimalist decorater, would be accurate. Just enough to know it's Christmas, but not too much to worry with after the holiday is gone.

That is...until this year.

Seems that the Christmas spirit has descended upon my precious 3 year old and she thinks, if it is sitting still, it should have a bow or some tinsel draped around it. :) It's so much fun to watch her little eyes dance at the sight of twinkling lights. I even let her put up a purple Christmas tree in her bathroom.

Don't ask.

So, when it came to decorate the 'big' Christmas tree, of course she jumped right in. All of the ornaments are at 3ft. or below. And during the night, the ornaments seem to move into convenient little groups. It makes me smile. We have lost a few glass balls in the process. But, a small price to pay considering the joy that decorating has brought my little one. I took the broken ornaments and placed them back into the plastic container, thinking I would get rid of them at a later time. After my little elf was in the bed I sat sipping on some hot tea, remembering the fun we had shared when I noticed the broken ornaments.

But, I couldn't throw them away.

There, in the glow of the lights, I opened my Bible and listened as God taught me a thing or two about broken ornaments.

or·na·ment noun \ˈȯr-nə-mənt\ Definition of ORNAMENT 1archaic : a useful accessory 2a : something that lends grace or beauty b : a manner or quality that adorns

Seems a fitting definition. But, I still didn't understand what God had in mind. I am an ornament? Hang with me. I am a broken ornament. You ever feel that way?? Becasue of my brokenness, celebrating has been tough for me the last couple of years. God knew that. And so, no accident that I was staring at the broken ornaments and hearing from God.

Here is what he said:

1 - You were created to be broken. Since the beginning of time, we were created to be broken. God knew that we could never make it without Jesus. Our brokenness is the avenue that we come to know him.

2 - Displayed not discarded. In the world's economy, if it's broken, you throw it away. Not so in God's book. Brokenness is the very place where God shows off. Sarah Young in Jesus Calling, puts it this way: Jesus says: "Do not fear your weakness. It is the stage where My Power and Glory perform most brilliantly."

3 - I need a Savior. News flash! :) My brokenness reveals my deep need for a Savior. It's no mistake that His name will be called, "Wonderful Counselor"...cause I have days that are not wonderful. More days that I just need someone to talk to. There's a reason that His name is "Mighty God"...for those days when I don't know if I can put one foot in front of the other. "The Everlasting Father" when I need to know I am not alone. "Prince of Peace" in the midst of my choas. (see Is. 9:6)

So, this year, I will hang a broken ornament on my tree as a reminder to me that the brokenness I have experienced is just an ornament of His grace and glory. How about you?