Overflowing Cupboards, Shattered Mugs, and the Goodness of God

It’s amazing how God uses things. Like overflowing cupboards and shattered mugs. 

Today, I reached into our cupboard to grab a cup to fill with coffee, and as I did, my hand hit my favorite mug and it tumbled to the ground, shattering into pieces on the floor around me. 

My favorite mug. The one with the beautiful, brightly-colored flowers and the ‘J’. The one that fit so nicely into the palm of my hand. 

It wasn’t a huge surprise. I kind of knew at some point I was going to lose a mug, or two. 

I have a weakness for mugs and even though I know I have too many and I should probably get rid of some, or at least move them to some place else in the kitchen, I don’t. So they sit, precariously stacked, one on top of the other, waiting for a hand to cause one to tumble. 

And as I looked at the mug shattered on the floor and the stack of mugs in the cupboard, I began to think of the things I am holding on to that I need to let go of. The things I try to lay down and then pick back up again. The clutter in my heart that keeps me from focusing on the things I want to focus on. And that sometimes when you hold onto things you need to get rid of, things that may not even matter to you, you end up destroying some of the very best things. 

And I realized that sometimes letting go looks a little like my shattered mug. 

It’s messy and painful. 

But God can use it. He can use those things we struggle so hard to let go of.

Healing sometimes looks like shattering and rebuiliding. 

I love how God uses imperfect people. The Bible is filled with stories of people the world may call broken. Liars. Adulterers. Prostitutes. Murderers. Thieves. 

People whose lives looked messy. 
God called them and He used them. 

I can’t fix my mug, but seeing it shattered on the floor today did remind me that it’s time for me to not only look at the clutter in my cupboards, but also in my heart. 

It’s time for me to let go of some things. 

It’s time for me to lay some things down. 

And to trust God will take what is broken. And make it new.

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I went to the mailbox and opened the door. There I found a package, marked Fragile, with my name addressed on the outside. 

I brought it inside and was careful while I cut away the tape and opened the box. 

When I saw what was inside, my heart skipped a beat and tears pooled in my eyes. 

My mug. 
This looks just like my favorite mug. 
The one that shattered into pieces on my kitchen floor. 
The one that reminded me that God takes what is broken and makes it new again. 

I hugged it close to my chest as my heart filled with joy.

A sweet reader sent it to me. 
And in my inbox was a message from another reader who also wanted to do the same. 

Friends, I am so grateful for each and every one of you. 
I am grateful for your uplifting comments and words of encouragement. 
I am grateful for how you encourage one another in the comments. 
Your words are always filled with kindness and love. 
To me. To one another. 

I am grateful for this space and for each and every one of you who has come to this page. 

And I am so grateful for how you encourage me. 
Each and every day. 

As I held this mug in both of my hands, with tears in my eyes, I was reminded once again of the goodness of God. 

Of how He cares for us in ways we cannot comprehend or fathom. 
Of how He takes what is broken and makes it new. Time and time and time and time again. 

I used to love this mug, but now I love it even more. 
It is a tangible reminder to me of what it looks like to love others well. 

And that acts of kindness go a long way. 

It is a reminder that God cares not only about the big things, but the small things as well. 

He cares about all things. 

It is a reminder that what is broken can be made whole again. 

It may not be the exact same as it was before, but often times, it’s even better than we ever could have imagined.

*These posts originally appeared on my Facebook Page – Truly Yours, Jen – Jennifer Thompson, Writer