Picking Up the Pieces

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Picking Up the Pieces

by Dorothy Teague

Back in the ‘70s, I sang with my sisters in churches all across East Tennessee and there was a popular song that we sang called “Broken Pieces.” Its popularity was gained because people from all walks of life could easily identify with it, as we have all been broken at one time or another. One night we stopped at a favorite restaurant that had a piano in the back dining room, and our friend, who was a great pianist, was there. At his urging to sing, we gathered around the old piano and enjoyed harmonizing on many old favorites. Then, our friend began singing this song. I had never felt the Holy Spirit so strongly in this song before. The Spirit was so overwhelming, I began weeping. Little did I know the battle he was having in his own life at that time. He was living every word of that song. There have been many times when my life was shattered and as I stood looking at all the brokenness, the only thing I knew to do was to give it to God to help me start again in my journey. We all make bad choices and stray from the path that He wants us to be on. We live in a fallen world and fall victim to making decisions based on how we feel, rather than what the Word tells us we should do. James 1:5 says, that “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” There are tragedies that we bring on ourselves, as well as those that happen to us which are caused by others. Illnesses, divorces, loss of careers, and death are all part of the human condition. But in every situation, we must pick up the broken pieces and hand them to God so that He can set everything right again.

God never promised our lives would be easy nor the journey smooth, but what He DID promise is that He will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Sometimes our lives are going to be like a shattered windowpane, with the fragments laying at our feet. But God can put the pieces of our lives back together in a brand-new way, creating a beautiful mosaic from our miserable mess. With His mercy and grace, we become a “work of heart,” His heart, a masterpiece of His design. All He requires is that we ask His forgiveness for our mistakes and, as the last line of the song goes, “just place the broken pieces at the Savior’s feet.”

About The Author

Dorothy Teague is a Tennessee native, who resides in McMinn County with her husband, Lewis, on their farm. After completing 31.5 years as a teacher in the Bradley County School System, she is active in her church at Eastanallee Baptist Church where she is a member of the choir and praise team.