Broken, With Love
by Janilou
|
Biographical Short Article -
Remembering a Mother's Day long ago
when my soldier-son was a little boy.
Broken, With Love
Eyes shining, my towheaded, four-year-old son, Dan, ran across the living room, holding a small
package wrapped in newspaper.
"Happy Mother's Day, Mama! I made you a special present today at school!"
Before I could respond, he tripped and fell. The package flew from his hands and smashed to the
floor.
The beaming smile he'd worn just seconds before, faded like the sun being taken hostage by
storm clouds. He reached for his precious gift, now in pieces.
Tears rolling down rounded cheeks, he looked at me and gasped, "Oh,no! It's broken." Bowing his
head, he began to sob.
I hurried over, and knelt beside him. Picking up the remnants of the pottery dish he'd made with
his own hands, I felt as though my own heart would break to see his pain.
"It's ruined," he said, blue eyes filled with tears as he met my gaze.
A thought came to me. Placing my arm around him, I gave him a hug and said, "Do you know what
this is now? It's a puzzle. Can you imagine what fun we can have putting it back together? I think I
even like it better like this."
He wiped his eyes and looked up. "You do?"
"Yes, I do," I replied. I spoke the truth. I loved his gift, for it came from his heart. It mattered not to
me if it was in one piece or three pieces. The love shining in my son's eyes meant everything to
me.
Seventeen years have passed since I received a "puzzle" for Mother's Day. My child wanted to
bring me the perfect gift, but he stumbled on the way. He thought he ruined it, but instead he gave
me an everlasting memory to cherish. I'm thankful to God for giving me the right words to say.
This Mother's Day, I would give anything to be able to hug my son, Dan. My little boy is now a fine
young man, a soldier. He is in Iraq, fighting for my freedom. I'm so proud of him.
The memory of my little boy's special gift, so many years ago, brings to my mind the love God has
for us. We come before God, our Father, bearing gifts of our works, our accomplishments, our
lives. Often, we stumble and fall on the way, breaking our gifts and sometimes, our hearts.
Our Father, God, kneels beside us, gives us a big hug, and says,"I love your broken gift. I love
you, even more when you are broken." It is true. He, who was broken for us, loves us more than
we can ever comprehend. It doesn't matter if our "gifts", or our lives aren't perfect. He loves us just
as we are and He knows our hearts.
As a mother, I am blessed to be able to understand a fraction of God's love through my own
children. As His child, I am blessed to know He loves me, even when I'm broken.