Broken But Not Dead
I got up really early Thursday morning and prepared for an exciting day at a camp I had learned about a few weeks ago. The Executive Director and I connected so deeply in our heart to serve our community, bring hope to the hurting, and our passion for life. This camp’s mission is to serve children in foster care and group homes. I hopped in the car really early, planning and hoping to make it before the first session with the camper began. I knew the Lord had something very special planned for this day, but I didn’t know what it was.
I arrived near the end of breakfast and was greeted with big smiles and introductions from the Executive Director to other staff members and some campers. I watched the campers help clean up and begin to enter the worship center. Some were really excited to run in and dance to the introduction music. Others were dragging in so slowly, exhausted from an exciting week at camp. Camp where they were safe, seen, and free to be kids.
After the launch session for the morning the kids were excited to be off to their next locations. Girls went to crafts, boys went to the pool. I got to help a bit with the crafts and had a chance to connect with those amazing young girls and hear their favorite stories from the week. It was a first for some to see a pool for the first time and to jump in! You would hear the giggles about the splashes. “I met new friends.” “I saw a horse for the first time.” “I liked the food.” The majority favorite part of camp was the pool.
Then it was the boys time to come in for crafts. They had all just been in the pool and were so full of life, crafts was not their top priority, but they got them done quickly. The pool was their favorite part of the days as well. I watched them wrestle with their counselors. It brought the biggest smile to my face. My boys, nephews, and cousins all wrestle with my husband, the uncles and other cousins often. The boys have never had those opportunities within a safe, loving environment. They were all smiling, laughing, and loved being played with. Their counselors, most athletes, were able to engage with these boys, connect with them in a manner where they were free to be kids. Be boys free to run, play, rough house a bit and not be in survival mode or defense mode. Note-for anyone who raises an eyebrow of concern. It was not an all out free for all total chaos. It was freedom with some flexible boundaries and perfect for those boys.
Chris, the camp Executive Director, had introduced me to his dear friend Stephethen Holland via email already. He had shared with me a bit of his story and passion for speaking in the Prolife circuit. I already felt connected before we even met. What a privilege and honor to meet Stephethen, his family and be able to share our stories of life, vision, passion, purpose with one another. We ended up talking for 4 hours and immediately became friends. I could tell you some of his amazing stories, but it’s better for you to see them and experience them for yourself. Stephenthen’s non-profit is called Broken But Not Dead. Here’s a link to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BrokenNotDeadMinistries. Seriously take about 30 minutes today to go in and listen to some of the stories of resilience, brokenness, hope, and restoration. Once you have finished, grab some tissues and watch this incredible story of how he met and reunited with his birth mother. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar2iq6hjmNA
As I drove home I tried to process everything I had experienced. I got home and watched my son play in our pool with friends. I knew that because his birth mother chose adoption he was spared from the life that many of those children are currently living in. He’s safe and loved on a daily basis in his forever family. The passion the God has called me to in this season is to speak for life, work with families in crisis, and be an advocate for adoption, core value. We’ve all been through those broken not dead moments of life where we wonder how our circumstances can be for our good. I call them beauty from ashes. Through the times of suffering I have learned forgiveness, grit, resilience, boundaries, beauty, how to dance in the rain, how to connect with others so deeply in areas because you can only understand them when you’ve been there. All the way, Jesus has always been by my side writing a story and painting a picture so others can see his beauty through me and in spite of me. What are some of your broken but not dead/beauty from ashes moments? How have they given you passion and purpose in your life? Are there areas that you need to seek support for, give forgiveness, or draw some boundaries? I’m here for you!
