“I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you.  I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” Ezekiel 36:26

Repairs

Some years ago Floyd bought me a cute, rustic wheelbarrow to put in our garden. We had flowers planted in it. I loved the wheelbarrow, and got lots of compliments on it.

Because it’s out in the wind and weather, it was starting to fall apart. I hated to lose it. I’ve never seen another one like it in all our years here. I don’t think it would have survived this winter in the condition it was in.

I talked with a handyman friend, and he said he could build me another one. He took the old one so he could use pieces of it. There were parts that were salvageable. A couple weeks later, he showed up with my new “rustic” wheelbarrow. It’s lovely, stronger, and will now last for many more years. I love it!

Often as I do my prayer walking on our deck, I look at that wheelbarrow. I think I’m a lot like it. With all that I’ve “weathered” I have days when I feel like I’m falling apart. I wonder if I’ll survive another storm, another winter. God, the wonderful “handyman,” in His goodness and faithfulness, takes the “pieces” of my heart and life and rebuilds them. He patches, repairs, and adds new things. He strengthens what’s weak, and supports where I’m coming apart.

That little wheelbarrow has been a good visual reminder of what God does in our lives. He doesn’t throw us out when we’re falling apart. He doesn’t throw up His hands and say it’s hopeless. No, He takes us by the hand and says, “Let’s do some repair work here.” And He rebuilds us. How wonderful He is. I’m hoping I’ll last for many more years too.

I’m so grateful He can take our brokenness, and restore it – make it new.  He is constantly at work within us to make us more like Him.  How faithful He is.

I’ve attached photos of my broken, falling apart wheelbarrow…and my restored, patched new one.

“Father, thank You for repairing what is broken. Give us a new, tender heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”