Restoration: Being Put Back Together

Hello Friends,

How are you doing on this third Sunday of November? Can you believe that we are over halfway through November? I can’t. Can you believe that Thanksgiving is only eleven days away? I can’t. Can you believe that from today Christmas is one month and eight days away? I CAN’T. Time is moving way too fast. It really needs to slow down…. But I guess, it is what it is and we just have trust God that he will help us enjoy the rest of the year to its fullest–even if it does arrive in a blink of an eye.

Thinking about the holidays that will be here before we know it, this past week I caught myself thinking about all the delicious cookies, cakes, and pies that will crowd the countertop, ready to be devoured by all those who have been waiting all year for these special desserts. Chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, angel food cake, apple pie, pumpkin pie, and maybe a peanut butter chocolate pie. Yummmmmmm!!!

Although just hearing these words are making me hungry, I found myself thinking about a certain ingredient that is used to make some of these special holiday treats. Do you know what I was thinking about?? I was think about eggs… Why? Well I don’t exactly know why, but maybe I thought about eggs to help us understand how God works in our life. Let’s try something…

Can you finish this nursery rhyme? “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall . . .” You can? Well let me hear you: “All the kings horses and all the kings men, couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again!” We have heard this nursery rhyme before and you all probably know a little bit about its meaning. However, Humpty dumpty can teach us a valuable lesson about God.

I have an egg here and I am going to crack it into this bowl. Look at this egg, just like the Humpty rhyme goes, it would be impossible for us to put this egg back together. There are hundreds of pieces of eggshells in this bowl. Even if we used glue or tape, I don’t think we would be able to put this egg back together again. Kids, there are times in all of our lives when we might feel like everything is broken. Maybe you had a fight with a friend, or your parents fight with one another, or you’re not doing well in school, or someone you love has died. When these situations happen, you may feel like no one is able to make things right or put things back together; you might feel broken. You may feel like Humpty Dumpty.

Let’s continue: If you don’t feel broken or hurt, you might feel like all the kings horses and all the kings men, who couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty back together again. When someone needs our help, sometimes we try and try and try to help them, but whatever we do it doesn’t work. But you know what? The Bible has some really great news, it says, ‘A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise’ (Psalm 51:17). This means that God will not turn you away when you ask for forgiveness or even when you feel broken or even when you try and try and give everything you’ve got and it doesn’t work. He can mend a broken heart and life. He can put the pieces together. He can help when nothing else seems to do the trick.

The Bible says, “God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from everything we’ve done wrong” (1 John 1:9, GWT). 

Even though we may not be able to fix the egg, I bet we can fix this piece of paper. Do you want to help me tape it back together? Look at this paper now! All the pieces have been put back together, but we can still see the “scars.” This reminds us that even though God promises to forgive us when we admit that we have done wrong, our sins have consequences that can leave lasting scars. But wouldn’t it be wonderful not to stray from God in the first place? When we faithfully follow Jesus when we’re young and into adulthood, then our lives won’t be broken and torn apart by willful disobedience. That isn’t to say that we won’t have difficult times. God has promised to never leave us alone. He will walk with us and guide us, because he loves us.

The kings horsemen couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again…but you know who can…God can!

Let’s pray: Dear Jesus, help us to follow you and never stray from you. Thank you that you promise to forgive us when we ask for forgiveness. Thank you for mending broken hearts and lives. Amen.

Have a wonderful week!

Your Friend, Holy Spirit!