by Victoria Heinecke

God loves us, cracks and all.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“I am forgotten as though I were dead;
    I have become like broken pottery.”
Psalm 31:12 New International Version

Meet Mustard. He is a small porcelain dog that was made in Japan about 70 years ago.

I named him when I was a toddler, and he sat on a mirrored curio shelf through my childhood. He has moved to college and to each home, and he has been broken several times along the way. The last time he broke was when we lived in our previous home. He sat in a box with shards of other broken figurines, until I had the materials to rebuild him. There are cracks and tiny chips on his face, and a large hole in the back of his head because one piece is missing. He needs a cleaning, but he’s a precious treasure to me.

Mustard will never be as new as he was when he was first created; the chips and cracks are reminders of the numerous times he’s been broken. He’s been restored with a loving hand and the cracks are stronger than the rest of the figurine. Should he break again – I hope not! – he’ll have new cracks to be repaired.

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
    he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.“
Psalm 34:17-18 New International Version

Throughout our lives as children of the heavenly Father, we are tried and sometimes we are broken. In our brokenness, we call to the Lord for help and forgiveness. The cracks – our sin – are still visible, sometimes only to us but at times the whole world can see our scars.

God no longer sees our scars when we are restored to him.

“Be strong and take heart,
    all you who hope in the Lord.”
Psalm 31:24 New International Version

I have yet to find the piece for the back of Mustard’s head, but I keep an eye out for it and hope that someday he’ll be whole. In God, we will be restored as new when we live in eternal life with him.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado