Shells

I was walking on the beach yesterday with my favorite girl and her friend. A storm had come through the day before so we went looking for some shells. Storms will usually blow shells on the shore. The kids thought all the shells were beautiful------it didn't matter if they were broken or not whole-----they were happy to find such a treasure. Me on the other hand-----I was looking for the whole shells. I grew up on the beach and had seen it all before. I had lost the ability in seeing the beauty in the broken. At that moment God spoke to my heart------He said "Look at these shells. They are like MY children. Some are small, some are large, some look young and some were old, all are different in size and color, some are whole and some are broken but ALL are BEAUTIFUL in MY eyes." As I walked, and watch the kids getting happier and happier in each shell they found, God said " Paula you were once a broken shell. Yet, you are beautiful in my sight. When I found you , I was happy in the treasure I had found. I picked you up, brushed off the sand, I said 'I can make this whole again'. I put you in my pocket and took you home with me and Paula that is where your life began." He told me to look at the broken shells---"these are my hurting children---find the beauty in them again, Paula---for in loving them you will be made whole."

Thank you Lord, for the 'broken shells' in my life.