January 7, 2024
We enter this new year with old types of pain in our hearts and in the headlines.
Yet there is hope... in the poem called “You Are Beautiful” by Richard Elmes.
You are beautiful.
You are broken.
I see the pain
that goes unspoken.
You suffer in silence,
a feeling of dread.
Inside there’s turmoil
from being misled.
Sometimes if overwhelms you
and you just want to cry,
Your stomach is churning
and you’re not sure why?
(The poem goes on to show how Satan’s lies discourage and deceive people. They often turn to addictions to numb the pain.)
Yes, you may struggle,
and it still may be tough
but don’t think for a moment
that you’re not enough.
And I"ll tell you a secret
that many don’t know.
It’s that EVERYONE’S broken.
So you’re not alone.
So, when you feel broken,
know deep in your heart
that YOU are STILL BEAUTIFUL!
You’re God’s work of art.
The prophet Isaiah assures us:
“You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord...”
(Isaiah 62:3a RSV)
