If you have every tried to replace a child's favorite stuffed animal or blanket, you know that new is not always better. Children are rarely fooled, but in time... they will adjust to the new one that looks like the old one if there is no other option.
Truthfully, I feel the same way about shoes. Old favorites have visited Fred's Shoe Repair, again and again, until the final verdict of "no more... this is the last repair".
"Broken and beautiful" is a concept my culture has taken time to learn. I think we are still in the process. In the USA, we find it cheaper to tear down and rebuild. In places in Europe, there are regulations in place to save the old face of historic buildings, even if what is behind them is new an modern. We could learn a great deal from our international friends about the value in restoration.
Most of us do not leave this life without a few scars. Life can hurt. But in those broken seasons, we discover that love covers a multitude of dents and scratches. We learn to embrace the reminders that we can survive hard things.In the darkest moments were come face to face with a God who is truly with us and will not forsake us. Mending broken hearts is his specialty. Restoring joy is one of His many superpowers.
Isaiah speaks of "beauty for ashes":
"To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. Today, I am grateful for the beauty in dents and scratches." -Isaiah 61:3
This day is a new day. A new gift to unwrap. Don't worry about the imperfections. Trust the Savior whose specialty is broken, dented and scratched people. His love covers and heals. His blood purchased our pardon and our healing. He doesn't look away from our dents and scratches. Remember Thomas?
"But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We saw the Master.” But he said, “Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won’t believe it.”
Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.”
Thomas said, “My Master! My God!”
Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.”-John 20:24-29
When Thomas doubted, Jesus offered his resurrected nail scarred hands. Are his hands less beautiful because of the nail scars? I don't think so. Neither are ours to a Christ who believes we worth the cross.
Today, I am grateful for the beauty in dents and scratches.
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