Broken

As Valentine's Day draws near we see hearts everywhere.  Some are red and shiny and others are pink, or purple.  We rarely see broken hearts in stores, but they can be seen on faces all around.  We see broken hearts in middle and high schools where a girl silently awaits a flower from her crush, that never arrives.  In elementary schools we see broken hearts from children that forget their Valentine's or whose parents couldn't afford them.  In work places we see broken hearts from those whose marriages are struggling, or who are single, but searching for the right person.  On Valentine's day hearts are noticed, and if you look you can see the broken hearts as well.

But, what about the other 364 days of the year?  Do we remember to tell people we love them on other days?  Do we notice "hearts" and broken hearts on the other days?

Recently, our oldest daughter, who is struggling with mental illness, was drawing and writing:

"I'm cracked, not broken."  

I loved it and it made me think.  So often we feel like we have to be whole and happy to shine our light for others.  We believe that if we have a few cracks we are broken.  Broken means not working, and needing to be fixed.  Cracks don't mean we need to be fixed, they make us who we are.  They are the cracks through which our light can shine.

The truth is, we're all cracked.  

We all have cracks from heart ache, death, pain, disappointment, stress, anxiety, anger, resentment, and so much more.  There are many things that break and crack our hearts.  If we focus on the cracks of our broken hearts and keep them dark there is no room for the light to get through.  We must focus on the good that comes from these cracks, and let our light shine through them.

Light shines best through a cracked heart.    

When you look at a heart with light shining through all of the cracks you can see multiple beams of light shining in multiple directions.  Light cannot get through a whole heart; one without cracks.  We need to focus light through the cracks of our broken hearts.  Shine your light on others through your brokenness.   Not only will your light help others, it will also brighten your heart.

Shine your light by noticing others, share a Valentine, say "I love you!"  Don't just do these things on February 14, do them all year.  Pick up some extra candy or cards the day after Valentine's Day and give them out randomly throughout the year.   Befriend a widow, or someone with mental illness.  Reach out to someone who is struggling with grief.  Help an overwhelmed single mom.  There are many ways to Let Your Light Shine!   Get creative and shine your light through all of your brokenness; through all of your cracks!

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3