Available

the Office

The Office.  Comes on tv on Thursday nights.  It’s also available on DVD.  This weekend I got to watch some of season 2 at my little sister’s house.  HA-Larious.

 

Just felt like I needed to put that out there in cyberspace.

 

You probably know about Jim putting Dwight’s stapler and stuff in jello.  But did you know that he also put all of Dwight’s stuff in the vending machine in the break room?  And when Dwight realized it, he also realized that he had no money- his wallet was located in the vending machine.  Amazing.  But his friend Jim gave him a bag of nickels to help out.

Funny thing is, that if my work place was set up a little different I might be inclined to do that one day. 

And I love pretzel day. I just wish I got to have one…

so....

So, it’s Monday night.  I’m sitting on my front porch, just watched the sunset and I am thinking that it is ridiculously cool to be August.  And I feel like I need to share.  Why? Cuz, some of you are waiting for it.  And just cuz.

 

I have a lot going on in my heart right now.  It hurts.  I sit and think over the past week and I see so much of it the way God sees it.  I see the effects a 4 month old from Uganda’s life has on people around the world.  I am grateful that last Thursday at work was so crazy- so we can move on and move forward. But my heart hurts.

 

My heart hurts that I have friends who are currently half way around the world from home who just buried their daughter’s house in the ground in Birmingham.  That they were unable to put the dirt in the hole themselves because of the way Americans do things.  That they must somehow come up with eight thousand dollars,  give or take, so their family as a whole can return to visit the place they visited today. 

My heart hurts because it is the price we must pay while we live on this round piece of dirt and stuff we call Earth.  To long for heaven.  To long to be whole, to be with Him.  Fully.  Face to face.  And my heart hurts because the next thing is coming.  The next hard thing here on this planet. 

 

Don’t get me wrong- I am NOT defeated.  I am just weary.  My Lord is amazing and strong.  He has shown himself faithful.  Never once in the past 4 days have I said “why?”  I saw Melanie before she died.  I know she is free.  But to be burdened to pray for others can make one weary.  To carry burdens to the Lord is a treasure, an honor, and I would rather do nothing else.  I love to serve.  To be of service.  To help others where I can, to do what I can, to enable them to do what they do, and do it well.  To laugh, to love, to pray, and be there.  

 

All the way home from Birmingham today I listened to 2 songs- from Kari Jobe.  Part of one says:

“I know that you are for me

I know that you will never forsake me in my weaknesses

I know that you have come down

Even if to write upon my heart

To remind me of who you are.”

 

I’m Singing:

Only one name lasts forever

Only one fame stands alone

Only one king has an anthem

That goes on and on and on

 

And I’m singing to the God who brings redemptions to the nations

Kings and oceans bow to im in praise

And I’m singing to the God who wrote the book on our salvation

To the one who covers me in grace, I’m singing

 

Only one word in the beginning

Only one truth with prevail

Only one love brings a freedom

Only one man took the nails

Praise, praise to the Savior

 

Praise, to the Lamb of God

Praise in all of His splendor

Praise for saving my life.

 

I’m not sure why I am sharing all this.  I guess so for those of you who think I am superwoman and never get tired- I do.  For those of you who think I have no chinks in my armor- I do. 

But what I love about where I am is that He is my strength.  He is my song.  He is a God of surprises.  Like encountering a sister in Christ yesterday morning at church who has an amazing voice, wrote an amazing song, and then yesterday at Melanie’s service blessed us again with her gifts.  It makes my heart smile. 

 

And for a few minutes to be at work today and have residents say that they missed seeing me this morning.  For one to wave from across the room happy to see me.  No ulterior motives- they just missed seeing me.  It makes a weary heart smile. 

 

For the words of encouragement you have sent to me, to the Sserunjogi’s- thank you.  Your prayers have been felt, and your words of encouragement have brought smiles.  My Ugandan friends will be in country til the 15^th and plan to be in Auburn the 11-13^th.  I will let you know more details when I have them.  Please continue to pray for them- for their loss is something I am familiar, but completely unaware of.  They are not hopeless, just grieving. 

I leave you with Psalm 146 as we read at Melanie’s service yesterday….

 And the question- If God says He can do the impossible, and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me do I live like I believe it?

Psalm 146

 ¹ Praise the LORD. ^[a]
       Praise the LORD, O my soul.

 ² I will praise the LORD all my life;
       I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

 ³ Do not put your trust in princes,
       in mortal men, who cannot save.

 ⁴ When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
       on that very day their plans come to nothing.

 ⁵ Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
       whose hope is in the LORD his God,

 ⁶ the Maker of heaven and earth,
       the sea, and everything in them—
       the LORD, who remains faithful forever.

 ⁷ He upholds the cause of the oppressed
       and gives food to the hungry.
       The LORD sets prisoners free,

 ⁸ the LORD gives sight to the blind,
       the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,
       the LORD loves the righteous.

 ⁹ The LORD watches over the alien
       and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
       but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

 ¹⁰ The LORD reigns forever,
       your God, O Zion, for all generations.
       Praise the LORD.

Celebrating Melanie

I am still working on processing everything- but today was a sweet day.  Brothers and sisters gathered to celebrate a short life.  I wish I had the lyrics to a couple of songs we sang but I don't know where they came from so I can't post them.  But I can post the words from a song that Mandi Mapes wrote for the service at church this morning- Church at Brook Hills.

 When I get more I will post it here.  Plus pictures from the amazing fun with my Ugandan and American friends at the Japanese Steakhouse...they had never been.  Fun, fun times.

Not With My Own Hands

by Mandi Mapes

Almighty Creator

my first love and Savior

Your words burn like fire

into my soul

 

the world keeps pulling at me

to build a life that is satisfying

and my heart is so misleading

Father please don’t let me go

 

rebuild this ruined heart of mine

ingraft this broken branch into the vine

not with my own hands

but by the Spirit inside

I will lock my heart

in the hands of Christ

 

Where we are

I am back home since late Wed night.  Patrick and Sarah were doing good in Birmingham when I left.  Patrick was able to sleep all the way from Amsterdam to Atlanta so he was better able to handle what was coming.  They decided we would have a celebration service and then have Melanie's "house" buried in Birmingham.  Patrick was able to visit with the staff at UAB and see the CICU Wed night.  Sarah and I were able to hang out at her request.  We went to the Summit and wandered around Belk's then went to my sisters apartment.  Sarah said she has been in the hospital for 6 weeks and she wanted to do something else.  She has been encouraged by Patrick's arrival.

Services will be at the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham.  It's super easy to find- right off 280.  Visitation will be Sunday at 2pm and the Celebration Service will be at 3pm.  Don't wear black at Sarah's request.  :)

I can tell you that Sarah has been very encouraged by all your messages through the blog, facebook, caringbridge and texts.  I was able to sit and read them all to her the other night and on Wednesday.

For those of you who have asked what Patrick and Sarah need- the biggest need they have is financial assistance to come back in December.  Their wish is to bring Mark and Martha to see where Melanie's House is.  They want to be here during Christmas and Patrick will network some while they are here for a month or so.  If you need help on this, just let me know.  I know it will be a blessing. 

I spoke with Patrick briefly today- they have been working on funeral home, service planning and were going to go over to Brook Hills this afternoon.  I don't know when they will be returning to Uganda yet.  I will let you know.  But I anticipate it being next week sometime.  I will let you guys know when I find out. 

Please continue to pray for Catherine, Sarah, Patrick, Martha, Mark.  Your prayers matter.

On a separate note- Thanks for praying with me for my work place.  We had a big meeting yesterday with some important higher ups and some of the higher ups came to our facility.  Mostly good news :)  We covet your prayers still. 

Melanie

It is with a sad heart that I report that Melanie went to be with the Lord tonight at 12:23.  It is with rejoicing that I can say that I believe that sweet child is now in heaven healed and restored! 

Patrick arrives Wed at 3:30pm and He knows.  Sarah is heartbroken but not destroyed.  

If you want to know the details please read on.  If not, pray for my friends. 

photos of Melanie and her family

To tell you the details- 

My plan was to come to Birmingham today to see Sarah and Catherine (Patrick's sister), to take them to dinner or whatever and visit with Melanie at 8pm.  As I left Auburn I was informed that the reports had not been good.  The ventilator was still on high and last night they were told she had pneumonia.   Almost half way here I got a call that things were not good and they were chemically keeping her alive.

When I arrived I discovered that her blood pressure was being chemically maintained about every 20 minutes or so.  Her blood pressure would drop and her oxygen level would too.  Her oxygen level was only around 70 percent.  When we visited at 8pm the nurse was having to give her the drug every 10 minutes or so.  The nurse Heather was great.  Catherine Wise (one of the students who went to Uganda in May) was with me and we got to spend over an hour with Melanie and talked with Heather.  Heather answered a lot of questions for us and explained some things.  We talked to Melanie and told her that her Dad was on the way.  Patrick had already left Uganda and was on his way to Amsterdam (his layover).

When Catherine Wise, Suzanne, Catherine (Sarah's sister in law) and myself went to visit at midnight the MD was there with the nurse and we were told that they could not keep her alive any longer with the medications.  Her body simply wasn't responding.  Her lungs were too sick and her body was quitting.  We got Sarah and told her the news.  We gathered around the bed and prayed.  Sarah did not want to be there nor hold Melanie, so she left the room.  I asked if I could hold her and they said yes.  So I held her for a minute or two then Catherine (Patrick's sister) came back and asked if she could.  I gave her to Cathrine and she held her while they disconnected the ventilator.  And Melanie went to be with the Lord.  

They got her disconnected from all the tubes and attachments and put her in an outfit.  And apart from the swelling she looked like the Melanie we knew.  Catherine Wise held her and we all spent time reflecting on her short life.  Sarah requested not to see her tonight, so she didn't.  

What was really neat was that Patrick has continually said that he saw his dtr as an evangelist.  Well, I know that tonight there was amazing testimony for all those who may have overheard us.  As we prayed and shared.  And Catherine Wise had made 2 little signs with verses- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me and Ephesians 3:20- to Him who is able to do more than we can imagine or ask for... While we were visiting at 8 with her we saw the verses were down under the bed- the bed rails were down so they covered them up.  I took them off and stuck them on the shelf behind her bed.  When they cleaned up Melanie and had her dressed the nurse, Heather had taken the verses and stuck them on the top of the bed, laid them on the mattress above her head.  As if helping Melanie testify to the truth of those verses.  

We were able to speak with Patrick when he landed in Amsterdam and tell him things were not doing good.  And then when we found out that she would not make it we were able to call him to tell him that she was surrounded by those who loved her and she would be leaving this world.  Herbie spoke with KLM and they were going to try to move him to first class for his trip to Detroit and then to Birmingham.  Sarah has asked me to stay in Bham and go to meet Patrick with her at the airport so I will be here.  Herbie is helping to scope out options for whatever they decide.  And Patrick will be able to visit with Heather tomorrow night and see where Melanie was so lovingly cared for.  

It has been a heartbreaking day.  Pray for Patrick and Sarah and Catherine.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to speak words that we cannot.  To God be the glory for all that Melanie's life was.  He IS good.  And He IS faithful.  

The current list

I was doing pretty good huh?  I was on a roll with the blog.  Then it stopped.  Sorry.  Some days the not having the internet just slows things down serious slow.

So here ya go.  Randomness by Andi.  Welcome.

 

1.     I have been on my knees a lot lately.  If not literally- in my heart’s posture.

 I have been praying hard for a little baby currently located in Birmingham in a little bitty hospital bed (for lack of a better term).  Melanie is Patrick and Sarah’s little girl.  Patrick- my friend from Uganda.  She had heart surgery.  A couple of days later her heart stopped and they had to work 45 minutes to get it going.  They had her on a bypass machine for a few days to give her heart and lungs a rest.  When they took her off that they kept her  on a ventilator.  And then her oxygen levels kept dropping without explanation, so they had to turn it up some (instead of down which is the preferred direction).  How this little girl has fought! And they still haven’t closed her chest- they are waiting for her to get a little better before taking her back to surgery for that.  So please join me in praying.

 

I have been praying for my work place.  We are attempting to move mountains.  To change a culture.  To change people who work where I do.  To get people to care continually more about others than themselves.  Some are dedicated to it.  Some are not.  We are working on getting the “nots” out.  And praying hard for the right ones to replace them.  All the while trying to take care of some fun, cranky, sick, attitudinal, loving, and hilarious folks.  I have felt for the last 6 weeks that I am in the middle of spiritual battle.  It’s crazy.  I ask you to join in praying.  Pray that the Lord would pour out blessing for His glory.  And that those that oversee (the regulatory types) would give us favor- to allow us to do the work.  It takes time.  For endurance, compassion, and joy in the midst.

 

I’ve been praying a lot for my friends lately.  Funny thing is, as a single person, my world is sort of smallish.  I don’t have a husband nor kids to pour my time or energy into.  So the Lord gives me friends to keep up with (for lack of a better word).  I love them.  Even when I don’t see them in forever or talk to them, I think about them and am reminded to pray for them.  And for those that they love.  I LOVE to see how God works things out in lives.  Even when I don’t know what to pray, or how God may be working anything out, I still love to pray for them.  I am banking on one day seeing how our Amazing Heavenly Father is working out all the details.   I see the struggles in lives and pray that the Lord would use that to draw people to His heart.  To be able to speak His truth into their lives, when I have little to say delights my heart.  And for the amazing things that happen daily in my friend’s lives- My heart rejoices to overflowing!  Good stuff.

 

2.     I realized a little nugget o truth tonight while I was ironing.  It was something that just hit me.  I have always known it but as I was ironing and watching the only show I can get on my tv I thought “I don’t want to be forgotten.”  And I said “Whoa.  What? Where did that come from?” 

 Don’t know if it was a single person moment.  Or a reality check.  As in- in 100 years what will a tombstone with my name on it really mean?  I guess it was really a moment that spoke to my heart- today matters.  People matter.  Invest in them.  Speak truth.  Love without reserve.  Say what you mean.  Be who you are.  Let folks see your Jesus. 

 I think it was brought on by the tv show- it was someone worried about saying the “right” thing, or looking the “right” way.  And while I pretty much am okay with doing my thing (have you SEEN my wardrobe) I guess somewhere in my heart I worry that I should do more to fit in, to be someone that everyone likes, that will make such an “impact” that I won’t be forgotten. 

 And then the Lord told me to shut up.  And be loved.  And let His truth dictate who I am.  And He reminded me that He knows me.  Even if no one else does.  It’s okay.  His.  Out there.  Here. Today.  Tomorrow.  Eternity.

 

And for a random other list to leave you hanging for later:

Return mail stinks…especially when it’s a great fun card with fur on it. 

A house with no curtains….makes for interesting evenings (can you say scare yourself to death for no reason).

I like fall…it means the snakes are beginning their retreat.

I love my bed.  Especially on a cool morning.

I wish I had a bathtub (the one negative to my current living arrangement- I think the only one).

God is good.  Even when I sometimes forget it in the middle of the craziness. He. Is.

God is sufficient.  Even when I sometimes forget it in the middle of the craziness. He. Is.

 

Peace to you, my bloggy peeps. I pray the Lord is showing you something new today. 

weekend in review...at the end of the week

This weekend has been good.  Friday night stayed at work deliriously late, then stayed on the phone really deliriously late.  But it was all good.  Saturday slept in (til 8am!) then work a little, lunch with a friend, then headed to the ATL- airport for a drop off then randomness.  I went with BethAnn, she wanted to go to the IKEA store. We did.  Boy did we.  

 Have you been to the IKEA store?  HUGE.  And the weekend before college starts- not a stellar idea, unless you love crowds, lots of people, and more people.  The place has it’s own parking deck.  It has a food court.  It has a playland to check in your kids.  It has 2 stories of stuff.  It was crazy.  It’s like the Disneyland of furniture stuff.  Granted, I did see some cool stuff I don’t need to spend money on and really don’t need.  But cool stuff.

 

This weekend has been interesting.  I had lunch today with a sweet friend of the high school age persuasion.  Jordan is starting 10^th grade tomorrow.  She’s great.  Love. Her.  We did Moe’s.  We did Marble Slab.  We did Target.  We hung out.  We talked.  She is fun.  And I forget she is in High School.  I can’t wait to see her in college.  God’s gonna do something with her that’s going to be amazing. 

 

Why am I talking about Jordan?  Well, tonight I thought about the random assortment of folks that I know and I thought I might take an opportunity to blog about them.  Like a highlight of how God has used folks in my life.  And it’s not really so random.  So watch out.  You might be next.

 But back to Jordan.  I don’t really know when she crept in my world, but she did.  She is an encouragement, she makes me laugh, and she texts me at the most appropriate moments.  Surprise!  Here is Jordan to encourage me or make me laugh.  And she is one of the only folks brave enough to dump a bucket of water on my head while I am fully clothed.  Little did she know I would retaliate with a trip over to the swimming pool.  Good times.  She loves to serve others- friends or strangers, doesn’t matter.    She loves to listen (at least to me ramble on).  She loves math (I don’t, but I understand why she does.)

 

I guess I am thankful for people like Jordan.  Willing to speak her mind to someone so much older- I am pretty much 20 years older than her.  But I don’t feel like I am.  And I am thankful that she is willing to seek the Lord, serve Him, and not be ashamed to let folks know that she loves the Lord.  Apologies for the pictures…I can’t find the really cute one of us we took a few years ago.  I guess I need to get an updated one.

 

And while I highlight a local friend, let me highlight an international one.  Patrick and his family.  He is “the bridge” for those of us who have gone to Uganda.  He is a logistical master.  He has not only served me and the teams I have taken, but Louie Giglio and the Passion team folks, churches from California, Colorado, Ohio and plenty of folks serving in Uganda or seeking to adopt children.  He has a great, fun, quiet wife- Sarah and three beautiful children- Mark, Martha, and Melanie.  Sarah is currently in Birmingham waiting for Melanie's surgery to begin this morning at 8am.   Please join me in praying for them.  And for Patrick with the kids back in Uganda. You can follow them at CaringBridge

 

It has been amazing to see the Lord work out the details.  Originally they were to head to NY. But then that changed to Birmingham.  Lots of contacts, friends and people willing to help.  And their needs are step by step being taken care of.  From visas and tickets to lodging and transportation.  Patrick is such a servant.  His desire is to indeed be a bridge to get people involved in Uganda to help his people and for them to know the saving grace of the Lord’s salvation. 

 

We’ve encountered some speed bumps to setting up a US office here but hopefully soon we can get the rest of the paperwork completed and sent in to be a bona fide stateside charity and connection point for those wishing to go to and serve in Uganda.   In the meantime, we focus our prayers and work on getting Melanie what she needs and healed up! 

a little family time

So, I have mentioned my Uganda kids.  And I probably at some point mentioned "my child" Faith Elizabeth.  So I thought I would put out some updated photos of her.  And I thought I would put some out of the ol family.  By the way- want some attention at a Family Reunion mainly consisting of folks over 60?  Bring in 4 kids under the age of 5 and 2 of them being twins...you would have thought my brother with his family were celebrities.  Better him than me :)  Enjoy.

 I know...stellar picture of me...but ya know- You work with what you got. 

 

What happens when you take a picture in the pitch black car... good times.

 

anniversaries

Okay, so I just got to put it out there.  I know it applies to a few folks (one of the fives of you out there) who read this here blog.  So I figured I would go ahead and be transparent and put it out there. 

This week holds an anniversary for me.  It doesn't make me happy.  I approach the event with a little hesitation.  And a little confliction (is that a word?)  So as I ramble to try to explain, hang with me.

This week marks the week my mom died- 11 years I've (we) have been without her company here on earth.  She struggled long and hard.  And in the usual stubborn Strain/Longest way she fought.  I got to spend some great time at home with her.  I got to bring her lunch at least 2 days and spend the afternoon with her plus my off day.  I always loved calling her around 11 to see what she might be in the mood for- Chinese, Sonic (some version of a fried patty sandwich) or maybe soup from somewhere.  And inevitably she would fall asleep while eating and have me warm it back up for her.  But it sucked.  It sucked to see some one you loved so much get sick.  Hurt.  And then dying. 

2 weeks before she died was my birthday.  I am a Great American Cookie Cake kind of girl- all chocolate icing please.  (or my mom's homemade buttercream icing on some sort of cake out of a box would do it to).  Mom made sure that I got a cake for my birthday.  All chocolate icing.  And she could barely eat her little square she had.  But she made sure it was there.  And later that week or early the next week Dad and I went funeral "shopping" and bought a new dishwasher- ours was on the fritz and company was coming.

See, here is the thing.  When my great grandmother died I remember some story about a relative lamenting her death and wishing her back. I remember my mom said "Don't ever wish me back."  And later when she was sick she said the same thing.  I totally get that.  When I head on to glory please don't wish me back here.  I know that heaven will be mindblowingly better than anything here.  But my heart hurts some days and I miss her company.  Call it wishing her back or whatever you want.  But when the ol birthday is followed by such an  anniversary it sometimes just stirs up trouble in my heart.  I miss her.

When I went to the funeral this week I was delighted to hear the hospice chaplain share once again : 2 Corinthians 5:1-2,6  "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ²Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling.  ⁶Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord." 

Please note as he said "WE KNOW" it's not like it's a surprise.  We have to leave our tent to move on to the mansion built for us in glory.  Somehow when he talked about that on Tuesday it made my heart hurt less. 

I have no idea why I felt compelled to share this.  I guess because it's easier to share it here than in your face.  I don't do that much when it comes to missing my mom.  It's just too hard to explain.  I am thankful for those friends who get it.  Who get that some days I have a need to decompress and ramble some.  You know those things that a mom would listen to and possibly offer advice.  Or sometimes just listen with no commentary?  Yeah.  Those.  And since I got no husband around to ramble to, and sometimes I just need another human to hear it and not simply the Lord I ramble on to those individuals.  So if that applies to you- thank you.  From the bottom of my heart- thank you.

For those of you who have experienced such a loss, I pray that the Holy Spirit is working in your heart as He is in mine.  That He is your comfort and counselor as He has been for me.  That He would surprise you with His goodness in the most needed moments. 

When I was in college I heard a guy speak (several times) and he would say "Whatever makes you long for heaven, consider it a blessing."  Missing my mom makes me long for heaven.  To be whole in front of the Lord Almighty.  To see Jesus face to face and hug Him- to fall at His feet.  And to fellowship again with those who are no longer here.  "To Know" the other side of the story...the heavenly dwelling part.  Until then I will consider it ALL a blessing.  Because it makes me go to Him.  To trust Him more. To long to be more like Him.  To see it all as He sees it. 

So if I could, I would speak peace into your life- for now, or for later when you need it most.  May you find Peace- Him.

broken or...

Evidently I didn't post this from last month...here ya go.

So I have been learning a lot this week about people's brokenness.  Or what we think is broken.  Not brokenness as in a good thing but broken as in unusable and ready to be chunked in the trash.

I was thinking "what things do we actually use that are "broken?"  Here's what I came up with:

broken plates, mirrors,  and tiles- can you say mosaic?

pencils

crayons

coffee cups with handles broken off

After a while of thinking I can't come up with much else.  At least the US version.

Then I think about going to Uganda or China and all the broken things I have seen repurposed.  

And I wonder if our concept of broken=trash  bleeds over into our lives?

When I mess up I am useless. 

 

When I don't do what is expected I don't measure up to some preconceived notion of what should be(what I think) then I have failed= useless/broken.

When life turns out different than I imagined= trash it.

I don't say this because that is what I am currently thinking about my life.  I have seen it in friends lives this week.  In lives of those around me at work. In lives of those in the celebrity world. How people become devalued because they are deemed broken. 

The disposable society we live in bleeds over into our hearts and minds. 

What a lie.  What ridiculousness. 

If only we could all see each other as Christ sees us.  If we could see the view the Creator, Lover of our souls sees us.  If only we could see it and believe it.  And treat others like it. 

Let's press in to see it how He sees it.  And press others to see it how He sees it.  That each person has value DESPITE their "brokenness" and because we are broken.  

What is amazing to me is the use of the word broken in God's word- it was used with a negative connotation.  More uses of "broken" are in the Old Testament than the new.  A lot of the references are related to sacrifices that were required. Sacrifices had to be perfect.  NO broken bones or any blemishes.  The new testament has very few references using "broken" and several of them are in reference to Christ's bones not being broken.  It's interesting to me.  His sacrifice met the requirements of the numerous references of NOT being broken.  It's almost like he wasn't broken so that in life we could be. That it would be allowable that we can come broken to Him.

What is even more amazing is that because we are broken we can be used.  Because we can understand another's life.  Another person's path.  Where they have been.  And we can speak truth into their life.  That broken things CAN be used.  They are priceless and have worth.  Because they (we, I) have been bought with a price. (See 1 Cor 6 and 7) 

Broken stuff, bought, purchased, redeemed.  And  worth without a price tag.  

Now for us to view, live, and love like we believe it.  

For those in my world who share their brokenness, I know I love them more for it.  As we live transparently we show ourselves available.  Available for truth to be spoken into our lives, to be encouraged and to see redemption played out in "real life." wow.