New Beginnings to Wholeness

2 Corinthians 12:9
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me



In 1986 my roommate and I attended a sales presentation for dinnerware and cookware. We were sold on the beauty of the product and the lifetime guarantee warranty for the cookware. We purchased the entire set which included cookware, fine china, bone china and a casual dinnerware set. I was excited about one day using the dinnerware.

I was always careful with taking care of my items. Growing up, my parents stressed how to take care of simple items so that we weren’t always replacing broken, lost, or misused items. I was careful to teach my kids the same thing. But we all understand and expect there to be mishaps, mistakes, and certainly something breaking in the kitchen! Yet, we didn’t have many broken dishes.

Then one day, I walked in the kitchen and there it was, a broken bowl in 3 pieces. It was lovingly placed on the counter with all pieces accounted for. I asked the kids what happened. My daughter explained it was dropped while washing dishes. I looked at her gentle face , smiled and thanked her for saving the pieces. I let the bowl sit for a couple of days, and eventually glued the pieces together. I followed the instructions carefully.

*Make sure the surface is clean

*Align the blue trim on the top of the bowl to insure a good fit

*Apply a coat of super glue and place the pieces together

*Hold the pieces together to secure the glue

*Wipe off excess glue

*Allow the glue in the item to set

That was over ten years ago. The bowl is still in use. We have washed it by hand and the dishwasher. We have placed it in the microwave. The bowl is good for cold cereal or hot soup. Because the glue has held up, we treat the bowl as if it was never broken.

I can still see the crack, but the bowl is like new and usable.

For so long I have lived a broken life. The pieces were neatly placed inside of me. Every time I attempted to get past my issues the task failed. I realized there was going to be a process. What I didn’t know is that the process for me would be longer than expected. There were lessons I was trying to by-pass because I wasn’t ready to deal with my issues. I thought by placing memories in the back of my mind, and moving forward with fervor would do the trick!

Not! Life will make you deal with her!

In ,Paulette Harper Johnson  new book Completely Whole she wrote 2 very important points in the first chapter that grabbed my heart….

*There are avenues and detours we must take (or make!)

*We want to get from A to Z without the bumpy roads.

Those 2 sentences stopped me in my track. I recognized this as confirmation from God concerning my weary days. I know there is no short cut and I opened myself to that fact a while back. I am walking in faith that I will be made whole.

Steps I have taken so far…..

• Allow the Lord to create in me a clean heart


• Align my life with the Word


• Apply the Word to the broken pieces


• Allow the Word to hold the broken pieces together


• Allow the Lord to wipe my tears


• Sit under the Word allowing the healing to set.

My wholeness looks just like my bowl. If I look hard enough, I can see the crack. But that’s just my testimony! My wholeness can withstand the hot and the cold issues life presents. And the Lord can use me and use me some more! I have recognized the weakness in my bowl and I submit those weaknesses to the Almighty!

Prayer Lord, Lord Dear Lord, I bring before you my brokenness. I thank you for never leaving me. I thank you for my trials and tribulations for I have grown Lord and I have learned to trust you. Please forgive for the times I worried. Please forgive me for having a Plan B for when I doubted. I trust you, Lord. Thank you for your grace and mercy!