May 7, 2019

Reading time: two minutes.

My Grandma Schuldt, who would be 131 next month, darned my giraffe.  Her 21 grandkids could request any stuffed animal, and she would design a pattern and create it from scratch. When I asked for a giraffe, she made one for me, and then on a rare visit to the west coast from Minnesota, when she found “Jerry” in a state of disrepair, she darned him.  She got out her thread and needle and patched up the torn “skin” (red striped remnants from pajamas she also made) under his chin.

I still have old Jerry; he’s functioning pretty well, considering all he’s been through.  I saw him just this week when a couple of the great-great-grandkids were at our place and his stitched up chin reminded me of Easter.

Jesus came to repair what’s broken.  He went from town to town proclaiming God’s release for captives and displaying the power to repair through miracles before finally moving on to Jerusalem to make final repairs for us.

I’m remembering of how Jesus showed his own repaired, resurrected body to Thomas and how he invited the disciple to touch his hands and side. Repaired, he reached out to broken, torn Thomas and stitched him back together again.

I’ve got some pretty decent skills at darning.  I fixed a favorite slipper not long ago, much to my wife’s dismay.  Some things aren’t worth darning.  You have to make a decision.  God has chosen not to fix most of this broken world, but he has considered you worth fixing.

And he’s commissioned us to be in the mending business as we proclaim the good news of a Savior’s redeeming love.  Off of the trash heap, back into useful service.  That’s who we are, and that’s what we preach.  God darns.  He renews, refreshes, fixes, restores.

Where are you feeling torn up after a busy Easter season?  What needs mending?  Review The Wellness Wheel; give yourself a quick scan.  Spiritual?  Emotional?  Relational?  Vocational?

Jerry the giraffe wears his stitches proudly.  They are a living testimony to his creator, my grandmother.  I pray your own stitched up wounds will also be a testimony to your Creator’s loving care.

Thanks for reading.

Do you serve in a multiple staff setting in a church, Lutheran school, university or social service ministry?  Discover how a Ministry Team Wellness Workshop can help enhance your team ministry by building the unity, spiritual life and communication essential to partnership in ministry.  Contact Program Director Darrell Zimmerman for more information.