“My heart’s so low, I’m so much to manage. I think you should know that I’ve been damaged” – TLC
I recently completed the book “To Own a Dragon” by Donald Miller. I didn’t read it because it’s about growing up without a father. I just really like Donald Miller’s writing. I was fortunate enough to grow up on a home with a loving father and mother. Donald Miller, however, did not. Clearly missing that part of his life left it’s mark on him. I guess you can say he’s “damaged”.
Last week in Virginia, a young man did the unthinkable. Near as we can tell, he was an outcast who had enough. Seeing the videos and the pictures he put together, my only thought was that he was “damaged”. Now there are 32 families and countless friends that will forever be damaged by his rage.
In some form or another, aren’t we all “damaged”? As John Ortberg said “we all have an as is tag”. We’ve all made a wrong turn, wrong choice, run with the wrong crowd and suffered the consequences. Maybe it wasn’t even our choices, but those of another that caused the damage. Here’s the key, our God is a God of second chances. He’s a God of restoration and healing. He’s a God that will one day right every wrong. He can and will repair our damage.
We are all damaged. The question today is have we allowed God to heal, to restore and to mend it? If so, what is our response?
My response is worship and helping to restore and mend anyone within my abilities to assit!
This book is on my wishlist but has been on the back burner because I too have an amazing father (and mother). Would you still recommend it, even if just because it’s a Miller book?
Absolutely! Miller is hilarious and brilliant. He really covers a lot of ground in a short book. He wrote this book while living with another family (the McMurray’s) and it gave him insight into what a family is all about. Many of us have probably experienced the same things when we had children of our own (unconditional love, decisions, consequences, teaching and coaching), but Miller’s take is as good as always. Great book.
Glad to be back to reading your blog!!! Wow, how many times have I listen to Satan tell me how “damaged” I am!! I am so thankful for the blood of Christ to heal my wounds. I see my scars and the healing process the Lord has taken me through over the years. I want my response to be to glorify the Lord through those scars. If just one person comes to know Christ because of my “damage” then it was worth it.
My response can only be one of thankfulness that the Lord did not cast me aside, but welcomed me home as His daughter.
There have been many times I have failed in some way or another, and I can only love Jesus all the more for His unfailing love and grace given so freely to me. Unmerited and undeserved, but so freely given and so gladly, gratefully received!
So like mudpuppy worship, thanksgiving, and giving my life back is my response. We are all so blessed!
His love, joy and grace to you Aaron!
Susan
Aaron,
Glad you posted on this. “Dragon” is not just for the fatherless, but for all fathers. Miller’s is an insightful thinker and has taught me how to observe and question “the ordinary”. I liked it so much I posted on it: http://clayburkle.blogspot.com/2006/09/reflecting-on-fatherlessness.html.