12.29.2009

Broken Crayons



Elizabeth and Abby received four new boxes of crayons for Christmas. There are many things that I enjoy about life, and a brand new box of crayons is one of them. There is just something comforting about opening a new box that has nice, neat, unmarred, pointy crayons, with the paper intact, that brings a smile to my face. 

At our home, we keep all of our crayons in one of those old butter cookie tins (the blue one...you know which kind I'm talking about, right?) because it's easier to contain them all in that than for me to order each box by color every time the girls use them. As I was dumping all of the new, happy, perfectly good crayons into the tin, I thought "I'm going to use this opportunity to get rid of the broken crayons!" They are such an eyesore when you open the tin and they tend to get scattered, somehow, all over the house. And who really needs more than 200 crayons and crayon bits, anyway? 

Immediately after that thought, another thought gently spoke to my heart: "The broken ones are still useful." And so I, not wanting to throw away things that are still useful, sighed and put the broken ones back in the tub, and carried on with my day. 

As I pondered why in the entire world I was prompted to seemingly keep the broken crayons, I was also in the middle of reading a book called 'Open Heart, Open Home'. I've read it many times before, and it is a favorite of mine. It is about how to provide hospitality to a world full of people who are hurting. Who are broken. Kind of like those crayons I considered tossing. 

You know the kind of people I'm talking about. Chances are, whether or not you would admit, you are the kind of person I'm talking about. Like crayons, people get overworked, broken and misused. Sometimes they've been dulled by strain and overuse, and no one around will take time to sharpen them. Sometimes the outside layers get torn and no one is around to tape them up. Some people are mishandled, physically or emotionally, and they break in two. 

But, friends, the broken ones are still useful. How many 'broken crayons' do you know? If you know me, and I'm quite sure you do, you are friends with at least one broken crayon. Look around. Your life is full of them, I'll bet. But, the broken ones are still useful! 

Broken crayons are excellent for those rubby drawings - you know when you lay the crayon on its side and use it for a leaf or stone rubbing? They're also good to melt down to make a brand new crayon. Sometimes all you have to do is sharpen it a bit or wrap it in scotch tape to make it whole again. 

Broken people are just as beautiful and just as useful (and oftentimes moreso) than people who (seem to) have it all together. My friend, the Bible is rich with stories of broken people whom God used mightily. Look them up! 

Take some time to invest in the 'broken crayons' around you. Pick up the phone. Write a letter. Send a note on Facebook. Or, better yet, go see them in person if you can. God tells us to encourage one another and to love one another, even and especially in times of brokeness. Remind your husband, wife, children, parents, brothers, sisters, extended family, best friends, coworkers, and everyone you know that is experiencing the pain of being broken right now that they are still useful, indeed, and that the God who made them can restore them! 

And if you are the broken crayon that I'm talking about, let me just remind you, from one who has been broken (and whom God has had to tape back together many times!), that you are a treasure - even in your brokeness. Whether you are hurting physically, mentally, spiritually, or emotionally, God has so much in store for you. He made you with a purpose and you are not alone in your brokeness. I'm praying for you tonight, that you would know how unique and useful you are and how very much you are loved!!


Broken,
for His glory!
~Lisha

I may be sharing this post at the following Link-up parties!

20 comments:

  1. What a wonderful lesson from something as simple as broken crayons! Thanks for the reminder that there's so much value left in broken people.

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    1. Being a mom opens my eyes to so many simple but important lessons I'd miss otherwise. :) Thank you for stopping by!

      ~Lisha

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  2. Beautiful! It's also important to remember that for God to fully use us, we have to be broken first. That's how we become soft in His hands. But you're right. It's so easy to disregard the broken and so important to not do so. Thank you for sharing this over at Modest Mom. I'm glad I found it this morning!

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    1. Yes! And coming to that point where we are totally broken before Him is painful, but ultimately so freeing.

      I am so thankful that the Lord does not disregard the broken ones!

      Thank you for your kind words, and for stopping by!
      ~Lisha :)

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  3. Lovely post!

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  4. Very thoughtful post. A good reminder that broken 'ones' are still very useful, if only the broken ones could see that. I think sometimes people striving for self-preservation become the breakers and don't even realize it. Thanks for sharing at Titus 2 Tuesday.

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    1. You've got a good point; I think that most of us have probably been both the broken and the breaker at different stages of our lives. But God, who is rich in mercy...! His longsuffering and great love towards us just astounds me. :)

      Thanks for visiting!
      ~Lisha :)

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  5. Your post reminds me of the scripture that tells us that we have this treasure in vessels of clay so that the excellency of His power may rest upon us. Guess by that standard, we're all broken crayons. To God be the glory!

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    1. Yes! I love that truth, Lori!

      Thank you for stopping by, and for the encouragement!
      ~Lisha :)

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  6. More often than not, I feel like broken and I'm blessed that He did not just throw me out. He has been very faithful to me even when I haven't been faithful to Him.

    Thank you for the wonderful post. Stopping by from Faithful Friday.

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    1. Yes! Yes! Yes! I so wholeheartedly agree :) That God would even take the time to repair such a mess?! What love!!

      Thank you for your sweet encouragement, April!
      ~Lisha

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  7. I'm visiting from the Momma Notes link-up. I really like this reminder to reach out to those broken - even if they are not responsive at first! I liked this so much I'm sharing it around. :)

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    1. Wow - thank you for your kind words, and for sharing :) This blesses me more than you know right now!

      Praying that God will direct some other broken crayons here through your sharing and remind them that He cares for them and that He is strong enough to restore! Thank you, once more! Blessings!
      ~Lisha

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  8. This was an absolutely lovely post! Your analogy is spot on! Thank you for linking up to Mommy Monday
    XO
    http://mrs-aok-a-work-in-progress.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you for the encouragement! :) The Mommy Monday link-up has been a blessing - so many wonderful posts! Thank you!!

      ~Lisha :)

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  9. What a beautiful post! So true. As a side note, broken crayons are excellent for teaching your children to hold crayons correctly. They're so small that they have no option but to hold them the right way instead of in a fist!

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    1. Thanks, Gabby :) I'd never thought of that very practical point, but you're so right! I'll have to try that with H - so helpful!

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  10. What a wonderful post and a good reminder!

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    1. Thank you for your kind words! I'm so grateful you've stopped by!

      ~Lisha :)

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