A few years ago we went through hard financial times.

It was a combination of bad spending and a horrible economy.

We also owned a holey, la-zy-boy.

It didn’t start out as holey, but after many years of rocking babies, watching movies, and life, it became worn and torn.

The lazy boy became very embarrassing for me. It screamed, “we are broke”.

So I kept ranting to my husband about how pitiful it was and we desperately needed a new one. He didn’t budge, said we were changing our bad habits and we were waiting.

He did not care what others thought of him or the La-zy-boy.

I loathed him.

So as time passed on, of course I did anything I could to manipulate the situation. I would go to department stores and come home telling him about great deals on chairs.

He still wasn’t budging.

I asked him what he thought would be within our budget and he said about $100. Ha! He knew there was no getting a decent chair for $100. He was just trying to shut me up.

So, one day I’m in the shower and venting our dilemma to God and proceed to beg Him to help me out because this chair really is quite embarrassing.

Of course as I’m talking to Him, He has to be God and expose my hidden motives and ask me why I really want a new chair.

He reveals my desire to impress others and caring too much what others think. And that He is also trying to teach my husband and I things like self-control, waiting, and budgeting. 

The nerve.

After our conversation, I plop down on my bed pouting and put up a half way prayer-wish, “Could you somehow bless us with a $100 chair? Like if its your will.“

Weeks go by and every time I knew someone was coming over I would cover the chair with blankets. And if people happened to stop by and the chair was exposed, I would find myself fixating on the holes the whole entire time.

And the need to explain, (even though no one asked) that we were currently looking for a new chair.

All the while the Lord was gently showing me my heart.

I found myself being ashamed for caring so dang much.

Realizing my shame I spoke to my cousin about the internal struggle I was going through.

She came back with, “I love this chair! I have never noticed the holes. Do you know how many times I have rocked my babies in that chair? And all the late night talks we’ve had in that chair?”

Oh friend.

Why are we so quick to cover up our holes and brokenness?

We all admire beauty. And let’s be honest we are drawn to beautiful people who appear to have their acts together. But here’s what I’ve discovered– we may be drawn to them but, we don’t relate with them.

I relate with the people who admit their junk.

I want to break bread with those that admit they’re unstable like me, unsure about themselves, and have not quite figured out how to get it together.

Brennan Manning always said we are to be wounded healers for one another.

Jesus was drawn to broken people. He sat with the sinners and the not-so togethers. And He also said, “it’s not the healthy who need a doctor.”

Excuse me can I be first in line?

Our brokenness, the things we to cover up? The things we are most embarrassed of? Those are the very things that make people realize they aren’t alone.

As much as my egotistical self wants to be admired, I’d rather be a “me too” person.

So how did the story end with the La-z-boy?

A few months later it was Thanksgiving and on a whim as we were leaving my hubby’s sister’s house he decided to text a friend that he knew worked for La-z-boy. He wanted to know if he could keep an eye out for any chairs they had on sale.

He texted back that he just happened to bring a chair home that he didn’t want or need but it was such a great deal he picked it up.

How much was it?

$100.

And the exact color we needed to match the rest of our furniture.

Friend- our God sees and cares. He cares about the things we care about, but He also loves us enough to interrupt our disjointed hearts and thinking in order to bring some healing.

And in the middle of our mess and holes– we find out our brokenness is beautiful after all.

{image source-canstockphoto.com}

\

Sharing is caring!

Facebook

Linkedin

Twitter

Pinterest

Buffer