Beauty from Brokenness

If you've ever stayed awake at night

wondering what a cactus would look like
after a javelina attack,

here's your answer:

The cactus garden is one of the things we love about this place,
the first thing you see after driving down
 the narrow lane to the house.

It was the first time we knew they were anywhere around.
One neighbor caught them on his game camera.
Another's cactus was attacked, too.

Last summer there were a few broken paddles on it,
and I said to the kids,
"Be on the lookout -
I think we've had pirates. 
how do I know we've had pirates?
Because they attacked our cactus."

Hannah confirmed my suspicions,
"Oh, no Nana, - not pirates.
It was the BOYS  - with sticks."

But this attack was different.
It was near destruction.

Reminds me of the enemy of our soul
working us over.

Be self‑controlled and alert.
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a snortn' javelina
 looking for someone to devour. 
 ( 1 Peter 3:5  MV - my version)
 

And when we leave the gate open

or when there is no gate

that hairy, stinkin', enemy with tusks comes in to

try to kill, steal, destroy and shred everything precious to us.

 

But God.

(I love the But God's)

But God in his tender mercy and grace,

when we are ready, lovingly comes in.

He cleans our wounds

and picks up the broken pieces of our lives.

Most of the time,

He sends Jesus with skin on

to clean up our mess,

to patch our wounds,

to hug and encourage.

And sometimes, they get some of the ugly stuff on them.

And sometimes they get stickers in their gloves.

Then the Light of the World shines down from above,

And we begin to see and feel new growth.

Growing a new cactus is easy -

just lay a broken cactus paddle on the ground

(not even fertile ground) 

and it will grow roots.

It's a great cactus,

so I laid some of the borken pieces in barren spots

 in great hopes of having new cactus someday.

When we yield to God's healing power,

our broken-ness may take root in someone else's dry hard ground

 and grow into a strong woman or man someday.

The Bible does not say that

everything happens for a reason, but

 "that all things work together to good

 for them that love the Lord

and are called to His purpose (Romans 8:28)

And what is that purpose?

To be restored to our former glory -

to glorify the One who planted us here in the first place.

"And the God of all grace,

who called you to his eternal glory in Christ,

after you have suffered a little while,

will himself restore you

 and make you strong, firm and steadfast."

(1 Peter 5:10)