Finding Joy in the Broken

The bright red leaves spread out brilliantly against the white cellophane wrapping.  The poinsettia flower was full and healthy when the young student dropped it off with a smile and a spring in her step one morning a few weeks ago.  I’d happily splurged on this unnecessary purchase because it supported her in something that gives her joy outside of school. 

That afternoon, before heading home, I carefully snuggled it between a basket and my jacket in the backseat floorboard.  Fearing it might turn over in the seat and injure the bright red petals, I made sure it wouldn’t move. 

I tapped my fingers to the Christmas music as it rang through the car radio.  I had an errand to run, so quickly completed it and pulled into the garage.  After unloading the car, I carefully carried the poinsettia inside. 

But then…

But then… I set the plant on the counter and the top half flopped over to one side. 

“Hmm, that’s odd,” I thought.  Surely it didn’t wilt in the one afternoon in the library! When I cut away the cellophane, it drooped over the one side, revealing an entire snapped off stem. 

“Drat!  How did that happen?”  In a quick act of frustration, I pulled the snapped stem.  And my heart sank.  It wasn’t just one stem! It was ALL THE STEMS!  All that was left of my beautiful, ruby red poinsettia was two scrawny stems. 

Immediately I knew what had happened.  After snuggling my poinsettia into the floorboard of the backseat, I’d scooted my seat up to drive and then quickly scooted it back to get out.  In the process, I’d decapitated my plant!

My thoughts this week have been on the story of Elizabeth as told in Luke 1.  Months before the angel proclaimed Jesus’ birth to Mary and Joseph, an angel appeared to Elizabeth’s husband and proclaimed the birth of a son.  Elizabeth was, by on-lookers standards, too old to have a baby. 

But truth be told, I haven’t been thinking about the older Elizabeth we read about in Scripture.  Instead, I’ve been considering a younger Elizabeth.  As a young bride, I wonder if she held the dream of motherhood and examined its beauty.  Perhaps, she nestled that dream somewhere safe.  Maybe, at first, she thought it would all go according her plan.  But then, over time, her beautiful plan was broken off at the stem. 

Broken and Not Enough

I wonder if it was then that she turned – broken and not enough – to our Mighty God?  I imagine, when she let go of the control, she settled into the righteousness she and Zachariah are known for today.  That’s when she found true joy and peace. 

In my focus to protect the plant, I’d unintentionally set it up to break.  My eyes began to open to other ways and places I do this, too – especially during the holiday season.  In my focus to protect my wants and desires, I lose sight of God’s plan.  I want to hold fast to traditions, so I overschedule.  To look like a supermom, I focus on the vision of perfection. 

My poinsettia, Elizabeth’s dream of motherhood, unrealistic expectations for Christmas – all are broken stems.  But, in them, God has opened my eyes to the possibility of seeing His work and His joy.   

Friends, do you do this, too?  Could you let go of something today and allow God to replace your striving for His peace and joy?