This picture is exactly what it looks like. It's pretty hilarious.
Now.
Oldest, compliant child...always trying to please. Middle child, just simply being a toddler, while mom tries to "reason" with him. Baby crying...well, that's often typical of babies, regardless. Young mom not wanting to make anyone upset, so basically doing nothing. She's doing a fabulous job of that, by the way. Husband, frustrated at the lack of support the wife is giving, as he tries to actually parent.
Broken, people. Messed up. And news flash...we all are, or have been, or possibly will be again.
We are born into a messed up world. The world is broken. Eden was perfect. We broke it.
So, even when we're given awesome things in life...we have a tendency to break them.
But, the really dumb part? We try to "fix."
When I face trouble, my basic, fleshly tendency is to "fix." I run to horses and humans. Horses? I see horses as what I think could or should happen. My thinking...what's in my figurative stable, or imaginary warehouse of knowledge and expertise. Sad, I know. "Okay, if I just do this...yes, that's it. Fix!" And humans? "What would my Aunt Gertie do in this situation?" or, "I just saw this on Dr. Phil...what did he say?"
We should seek wise counsel...but, truly wise counsel will always direct you to even wiser counsel. And that's where the real fix steps in.
We all know the old nursery rhyme. We all know that Humpty Dumpty couldn't be fixed by all of the king's horses or his men.
But, what about the king? I mean, I don't remember anything about him. Did Humpty ever call out to the king?
Okay, it may sound silly framed within a child's game. But, hang on. Why do I run to the King's creation and not to the King? Why do I not think the One Who crafted the very universe, my body, loved me enough to send His only Son...why do I not realize that He would be the ultimate fixer?
AUGH!
To add insult to my own self-inflicted injury, it's been in the Bible for ages.
Isaiah 31:1,"Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord."
In a day of social media, it's like we get Christmas letters from one another each and every day. You know what I'm talking about. Perfect days, perfect families, blah, blah, blah. For those of you feeling broken...it's tough. I've been on both sides...perfect looking days...broken days. Please hold on, I am going to get to some hope for all...
So, we're broken, people. Broken world. Broken. Broken. Broken.
But, when we remember that long ago, there was a King. He made a perfect world for His children. His children broke it. The King knew his horses and men could never fix it. He knew there was only one fix...and it was all on Him. He sent His one, perfect, unbroken child...to pay for the messes all of His other kids made.
He broke the One child Who didn't deserve it...for all of us who did. And do. And will.
So, I'm broken. I said it. Cat's out of the pretty, little, velvet bag. Yes, a new creature in Christ...but, scars from this life are at times more visible than others, and mostly, I am happy to say that I can look at them with peace.
Peace? Peace.
Because when the harried young families, depressed middle aged woman, lonely old man, victimized teen or any lost soul stops looking for the fix and finally looks to the Fixer...peace enters the picture.
When I share victories from my family...it's because the King has fixed us. When I share from a broken place...it's because I have peace that surpasses understanding...knowing that the King has fixed us. Has. Meaning...He has already provided everything we need...if we will just accept it.
Psalm 20:7, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."
May we be able to accept it all. The fact we're broken. The fact we can be fixed. Just not by ourselves...horses, chariots or men.
We sit on walls we shouldn't. We fall far and hard.
Unlike Humpty...so thankful we can be put back together again. My husband and I run to the King, and have to decide to do so whenever we face any sort of "break." We all do. To say otherwise is to lie. And we're all tired of those.
It's a new week. New challenges. Old heartaches. New joys. Old reminders.
It's a new week. Same King. Let's trust Him together. He can fix anything.
Excellent! Isn't it funny how we grapple the solution in deep conversations with our human wisdom and don't bother to take it to the Wisdom Giver. I'm trying to do this less and less - the solving it in my own messed up wisdom part.
ReplyDeleteA lady came into my office today and said, "I need wisdom". I immediately asked her if she just came from the prayer room. I couldn't believe I said it, but here is this precious sister in Christ looking to me for wisdom. Yes, we talked for a while, but I escorted her from my office to the prayer room and guided her through a prayer she should have said before she came to me. She did what the majority of us do (and you pointed out so elegantly) by going to "horses" and "humans" first.
Thanks for the reminder! <3 Bernice
Wow. So cool. I've worn myself out so many times...chasing down horses and humans. That woman was blessed to go to a human with godly wisdom...so awesome that you led her to the King in prayers. The real fixer. :) Great testimony and I'm so glad you shared!
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