As a child I had a doll named Sam that was awfully cute and much beloved. He had a plastic nose that was way too big for his head, little plastic hands and feet with easy-to-grab fingers and toes, and a gigantic smile. His soft cloth body said, “Have a nice day.”
One day one of my cousins and I both wanted to play with Sam at the same time. I don’t remember why we weren’t convinced to take turns holding Sam. I don’t remember which of my cousins was on the other side of the tug-of-war. What I do remember is that we both held onto our positions and the battle ended with Sam’s head in one of our hands and Sam’s body in the other.
I’m sure we both ended up in tears.
I remember Sam had to go away for a few days to the doll hospital where my mother was the surgeon. She painstakingly stitched a new black thread above where the green one had been and tied it tight so Sam’s head would be reattached to his body. Today I hold in my hands the proof, both of a cousin’s fight and a mother’s love.
God is like a mother, sewing us back together, mending our broken souls.
When have you felt torn apart?
What has God used to mend your heart?
Over the next 40 days, leading us to Four Days with Jesus, community members will be sharing personal stories in response to these two questions.
For me, I’ve felt most torn apart when relationships have been severed, whether through death, misunderstanding, or neglect.
In the summer after our freshmen year of college, I lost one of my best friends in a car accident. Her name was Kari Wilson. She was vibrant, beautiful, creative, hilarious, and she sang like an angel. So full of life.
She had told me her favorite verse was Psalm 34:18, NKJV. “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” She didn’t know how much her friends and family would need that verse.
God is near to those who are hurting. Not standing ideally by, but sharing tears, giving hugs, putting on bandages, promising there is a better day coming.
Psalm 147:3 says, God “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (NRSV).
Sometimes it’s through a Bible verse, or a song, an experience in nature, a work of art, a change in circumstances, or the words and actions of a friend.
God comes, suffers with us, and stitches our broken hearts back together.
Over the next 40 days, may these mending stories be part of your healing too.
Raewyn Orlich is the discipleship and nurture pastor at the La Sierra University Church and has three kiddos who are learning how to share… hopefully.