[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Ever break a tall glass and find yourself in a major cleanup? Recently, I had this experience. Though it was not in my schedule to clean up brokenness, the broken glass demanded immediate attention. Dangerous pieces, large and small, separated one from another and scattered far and wide across my kitchen floor and inside my dishwasher. Of course, the bigger pieces were the easiest to find and somewhat dull around the edges. But the smaller pieces were hard to see and especially sharp. I shed a little blood in the cleanup, but I had to do it so as not to be injured more later and so my dog wouldn’t step on a glass sliver.
As I spent time cleaning up this everyday kind of mess, I found myself thinking about and then praying for the women I know who have found themselves – for one reason or another – in hard, sharp places. And now, they are dealing with the broken aftermath.
For example:
- A friend whose husband moved out and finds herself heartbroken, separated, longing for a restored marriage, and without a clear understanding of how she will make it financially.
- Another friend who was diagnosed with cancer and is headed to chemotherapy treatments to heal the brokenness in her body.
- A woman at church who has a daughter struggling with mental illness, but the medications aren’t working so she spends long days at the mental hospital rallying for her daughter.
- A grieving co-worker whose daughter passed away unexpectedly.
- A neighbor who can’t work because her back surgery wasn’t effective, and now she finds herself applying for disability.
As I continued my cleanup in my kitchen, I was reminded of this verse:
“And I am convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”
– Romans 8:38
Then I sent out my “prayer hugs” to these women who need the power of God’s love to see the especially sharp slivers and to pick up the pieces of brokenness in their lives.
How about you? Do you see the brokenness around you that needs the tender love of God? Will you send out your “prayer hugs” of God’s love right now? And, if you are able, please give real hugs, too!
Remember that nothing can separate us from the love of God, for God is the Cleanup Specialist and Healer of all brokenness. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]