Pick Up the Pieces
October 1 2021
I was preparing for church as I have done every Sunday morning for the past 32 years. I stopped to fix my breakfast which consisted of brand cereal and turkey sausage. I normally eat oatmeal on Sundays because it’s filling and it’s generally only one of two meals.
As I was preparing my cereal, I sat my bowl on the counter. This was my favorite bowl. I have used this bowl almost every day for years to eat oatmeal, cereal, soup, and of course my favorite dessert, frozen yogurt. No one was allowed to eat out of my bowl, except me. I remember coming home to find my wife using my bowl and I was horrified, I asked her what she was doing. I reminded her she was using my favorite bowl and it was off limits. I had that same conversation with my granddaughter when she reached to use my bowl one day during a visit.
I poured the cereal into my bowl and as I got ready to place the cereal back on the shelf in the cabinet, out of nowhere, another canister fell from the other side and crushed my porcelain bowl into pieces. It sent the cereal flying onto the counter and the floor. Fortunately, I had not poured milk in the bowl so there was no liquid spill. I could not believe what had just happened. There was no reason for the empty canister to fall from the shelf because it was not being disturbed in any way. I was stunned as I looked at the mess I had to clean up. On top of that, I lost my favorite bowl of many years. I had used the bowl so often there were scratch marks on the inside where I moved the contents around in a circular motion as well as back and forth.
After I got over my momentary shock, I started picking up pieces of the bowl. I knew it was beyond repair even with the best super glue on the market. There were small pieces of the bowl that flew everywhere. I swept the small pieces and the cereal into a dustpan and discarded them into the trash. I put the large pieces of the bowl into the trash as well. I went to the cabinet and selected a new bowl. There must have been at least eight to select from. While I am grateful, I had other bowls, that bowl had sentimental value to me. I chose one and once again filled the new bowl with the cereal. This time there was no accident. I sat down and enjoyed my breakfast.
Life is sometimes that way. Out of nowhere we are hit by some unforeseen circumstances or trials and our life seems shattered into pieces. The job loss, the death of a loved one, an ugly divorce, financial set back, the fall of a revered leader who was a trusted advisor and friend etc. We are stunned and left staring at the mess that has been created. We don’t know what to do, which way to turn, or who to call for help. If we are not careful, we can lose control of our emotions and spiral into a state of depression. Or we can pick up the pieces and keep moving. That is also a choice we can make, and it is a sound alternative.
Our relationship with Christ will make it possible for us to pick up the pieces irrespective of how hard it may seem. We may be left to face a new normal, but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. His grace is sufficient, and He will enable us to rebound and move forward. Our Father in heaven never leaves us alone. He loves us and will help us get through the most trying times of our lives. I am a witness. The Lord is good and His mercy endureth forever. Pick up the pieces!