Have you ever had a broken bone?  Our Son was always a scavenger.  He would bring home things that he felt were good and could be used.  His prizes included a Ford Pickup Tail gate, a pallet, a perfectly good Christmas Tree (in January) and anything else he could find.  The pallet proved to be a problem.  He had left it by the swing set and while going across the top of the swing set, he fell and struck his leg on the pallet.  His Dad & I were in the kitchen and heard the yell.  I told his Dad to go get him, that he was hurt. A Mother knows the difference between a yell and a hurt yell.  He carried him into the house and our Son was saying “Don’t tell Mom!”  He was always climbing and fooling around, and I had told him, “If you break your leg, don’t come running to me.” Now to me, this was a joke, never dreaming that he would break his leg.  He took it literally and didn’t want me to know.  So much for my sense of humor.  I checked his leg and saw the tell-tale knot over the bone, and we left for the hospital.  We were fortunate that an Orthopedic Surgeon was there and since the bone was broken but not displaced, we were able to have him in a cast and home in just a few hours.  While he was in a cast and healing our streets were torn up and repaved and this necessitated him being taken to school in a wagon but to school he went.  The Principal, a most difficult man, said that our Son would have to sit outside the classroom while the other children went out for recess.  I objected and said that he would not be punished because he had a broken leg.  With my yelling resounding through the halls the Principal relented and I would leave the wagon at the classroom and the other children would pull the wagon and my son outside for recess and he would be able to enjoy recess along with his class and would not have to use crutches on the uneven ground (the Principle’s objection).  After 6 weeks and some exercises, his leg healed, and he was back to normal with the trust and resiliency of a child.  What is broken can be healed.  We have all suffered brokenness in our lives whether it is a bone or a broken heart, whether from personal suffering or loss we are offered healing.  I have been broken and healed more than once.  Through God’s mercies and love he has given us healing for our brokenness. He offers it daily. 

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.”

Psalm 147:3-5

Lord be with us in our brokenness, in our pain and our sorrow, when we are lost and alone. Heal us with your strength and give us your peace.  Be with those who are ill and suffering, those who grieve, those who are alone, and those who are alone amid many.  Be with our nation, may we find healing and strength and acceptance of each other.  Be with our church, bless our Pastor and our staff and leaders, give them your strength for their tasks and your love and peace for their journey. May all who enter our doors find your love and acceptance from us.  We ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen

Grace Epperson