I’ve heard people try and spin brokenness into something beautiful, I just can’t agree. I get the point of it. We’re putting a positive spin on something ugly. But no, brokenness is not beautiful. Brokenness is what makes us doubt ourselves, our worth, our relationships, our everything. It’s what makes us cry ourselves to sleep and whispers messages of hopelessness in our ear. I hate brokenness. It’s ugly and painful. But what I do love is healing. It amazes and inspires me when I see people who are willing to keep trying despite their experiences. They love, forgive, hope, and trust even though experience has told them not to. They know their worth despite what happened and have confidence in people even when they’ve been hurt by them–all of these things are beautiful to me. Once we heal, we’re stronger than we were before. So yes, good can come from brokenness, but it’s the walking out of our brokenness that makes it beautiful.

The Japanese have pottery called Kintsugi. It’s beautiful pottery that has been broken and repaired with gold leaf. Each piece is entirely unique. Similar, but unique. That’s how I view people. I may not truly understand your brokenness, but there are parts of it that I understand very well. We all have our own story. It becomes a part of who we are and sometimes we look different after difficult seasons of life. But the way we come back from those valleys is something special and it’s something we can all relate to. So, no, brokenness is not beautiful, but you, your story, and your healing is something truly wonderful.

*The information contained herein is not therapeutic advice nor a substitute for therapy. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any mental health problem. If you are located within the United States and you need emergency assistance please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. If you are located within Colorado you may also call the Colorado Crisis Line at 844-493-TALK (8255).