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Question: Is a hairline fracture ever good?Take your time and think about your answer. (Repeat the question: Are hairline fractures ever good?) What is your opinion?
Common sense leads us to believe that hairline fractures are NEVER good because they represent a place of weakness in a bone. The slightest hairline fracture creates vulnerability. Too much weight and stress applied to that site results is a broken bone; even a compound fracture. This would never be a good thing!
If there is a hairline fracture in a wall near a window or a door frame, most of us would deduce that something is going on with the foundation of the house. Repairs could run up to thousands of dollars. That is never good.
What about a hairline fracture in a glass pitcher? Would that be bad? Of course it would be bad. The last thing you want at a dinner party is a pitcher that breaks in two; spilling a quart of sweet tea (it's a Southern thing) all over the lap of a guest.
Question: Is a hairline fracture ever good? Think for a moment.
Yes, there are times when hairline fractures are good. When a person has been the object of ridicule and cruelty, they usually begin to believe they are the problem. They believe they are defective and worthless. Surely their parents would not lie to them or falsely label them?!?! If they are blamed for everything and labeled by the family as the "identified patient," it must be true, right?
No, it may not be true at all. In fact, more times than not when people label their children, the root issue lies within the "label er" not the "labeled." Normal, loving, whole people don't go around labeling others. Dysfunctional, whack-a-doodle people (a professional term) will do anything to take the spotlight off themselves. Labeling, badgering, and belittling are ways to accomplish that goal.
Sadly, children do not have the capacity to discern the guile of dysfunctional parents. Children do not have the ego strength to counter the actions of caregivers. Innocent children are hard-wired by God to believe people, especially their parents.
So, is a hairline fracture ever good? The truth is, "Yes." When a wounded person is loved and accepted right where they are; when the love and care are consistent and persistent, they begin to develop hairline fractures in their belief system. When they are told good things, truthful things about who they really are (and especially who they are in Christ), hairline fractures appear... even in the thickest of protective walls. If they are affirmed long enough, blessed thoroughly enough, loved well enough, the hairline fractures of a wounded person begin to enlarge and the heavy weight of labels and accusations; blame and misplaced responsibility begin to break off that person. This is a glorious miracle of God. For a wounded person to see himself/herself as God sees them, it is life-giving and life-changing.
So, you see, some hairline fractures ... strategically placed by God can be exactly what a person needs. They are crucial in changing a person's self-concept. They are vital in aiding a person to become who God ordained them to be.
And on top of that, God will use people in our lives to be His truth-bearers. Their love, patience, kindness, goodness are used by the Father to create tiny cracks in our misguided belief systems. It is a glorious day when bad things break off of God's people.
Amen and Amen!
Very interesting post! "When a person has been the object of ridicule and cruelty, they usually begin to believe they are the problem. They believe they are defective and worthless. Surely their parents would not lie to them or falsely label them?!?! If they are blamed for everything and labeled by the family as the "identified patient." It must be true, right?"
ReplyDeleteSo true! I believe that when people are labeled, blamed, ridiculed, bullied, abused, etc. most of them build strong protective walls. Some feel safer, more secure inside those walls. What they don't realize is that what keeps others away, also keeps them locked inside. I think that hairline fractures in this protective wall are awesome!
I totally agree with, "When a wounded person is loved and accepted right where they are and for a long enough time, they begin to develop hairline fractures in their belief system. When they are told good things, truthful things about who they really are (and who they are in Christ), hairline fractures start to appear. If they are affirmed long enough, blessed thoroughly enough, loved well enough, the hairline fractures of a wounded person begin to enlarge and the heavy weight of labels and accusations; blame and misplaced responsibility begin to break off that person. This is a glorious miracle of God."
It's awesome when God sends such a person to do the loving, supporting, encouraging and chiseling away at this protective wall with its wrong beliefs! It's like a beautiful butterfly finally emerges from the cocoon. It's like a diamond has been freed from the bed of coal!
Oh, what a job we have to do to love others enough! That's what we owe them.
I've heard many say however, that some people are just too needy, an endless pit, and we shouldn't focus on them lest they drain us dry and we have no energy to save the lost.
I think that if we allow Christ's love to flow through us, there will always be enough! He is Source!
Thanks so much for this post!