“Never Too Broken”

Oh, how I wish I would have had this book in 1984, I was broken. Broken in pieces like shattered glass characterized how I felt. Where was God I wondered.

I suffered from migraine headaches. I was totally disabled by the vice-gripping headaches. I had lost my job at the hospital where I worked in the business office in 1982. When I would seek treatment for the headaches at the local emergency room, I was given Demerol and Vistaril. The medication would wear off and I would have another headache. When I would seek treatment again for another headache the same day, I was labeled a drug seeker.

 I had two sons at home that were ten and seven years old. My husband and I had our problems and the headaches did not help. I really did not want to live that way I was living. I often said if only I could have a head transplant. Not really knowing how defeated this statement sounded. I felt my life was not worth living yet I had children, I had belief in God and I knew something had to change.

[Tweet “”God sees our value, even if we don’t” Tracie Miles #YLSC”]

In Chapter Seven, Tracie shares the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8. I have always loved that Jesus bent down and wrote in the sand. I have wondered just as Tracie did what was written but she discovered that the priest was required to write the law that was broken and the name of the offender. What ever Jesus wrote in the sand made the accusers leave. Jesus tenderly speaks to the woman and asks where were her accusers. Tracie writes only God knew how her story ended.

Tracie shares we are all sinners and have no right to judge others. Jesus died on the cross to save us from the penalty of sin.

Jane Smith shares in her story that she needed approval and attention. She led a promiscuous lifestyle that started when she was in high school. Adding anorexia and bulimia while preparing for a beauty pageant she was able to get what she wanted. She married an abusive man because she believed no one else would want her. She rededicated her life and God met her needs and changed her life.

In 1984 at the end of my rope, I entered a pain center that taught me how to live with migraine headaches. I learned the medicine the doctors gave me rebounded in my system causing me to have another headache. I returned to school and was trained to be a medical assistant. I found out that I had a brain and did well in school you see I needed to succeed at something. Did my headaches stop, no but I learned how to cope, how to do more than exist. This is where my life started over. The shattered pieces of my heart mended. I was not a drug seeker. I was not worthless. I was not dumb. I was not a horrible mother. God through His grace enabled me to go on and earn my Masters Degree in Nursing.

[Tweet “He wants our hearts, he wants us to share our blessings with others and to serve Him with our hands, but He doesn’t require it in order to love us. Tracie Miles #YLSC”]

Tracie shares, “God sees our value, even if we don’t, because His prospective is much different than our own.:

[Tweet “He doesn’t see broken pieces and broken lives because He knows no one is ever too broken for Him. Tracie Miles #YLSC”]

He sees each of us as someone with great worth despite how we might see ourselves.

[Tweet “God can mend that crushing feeling of hopelessness and brokenness. Tracie Miles #YLSC”]

She reassured us, “As children of God, we are precious, beautiful, loved, and valuable. Jesus sees immense value in each of us.”

Your mission is to read Chapter 7 and share what God is helping you to realize.  

Father God, thank you that You see our value even when we do not see our value. Thank you for your love. Thank you that we are precious in your sight.

Jesus Loves The Little Children
Hymn Lyrics

Jesus calls the children dear,
“Come to me and never fear,
For I love the little children of the world;
I will take you by the hand,
Lead you to the better land,
For I love the little children of the world.”

Refrain

Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in His sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

[Alternate refrain:

Jesus died for all the children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in His sight,
Jesus died for all the children of the world.]

Jesus is the Shepherd true,
And He’ll always stand by you,
For He loves the little children of the world;
He’s a Savior great and strong,
And He’ll shield you from the wrong,
For He loves the little children of the world.

Refrain

I am coming, Lord, to Thee,
And Your soldier I will be,
For You love the little children of the world;
And Your cross I’ll always bear,
And for You I’ll do and dare,
For You love the little children of the world.