Recently a group of us rented a condo in Florida, and as we were leaving, one year old Micah tripped on a lamp cord and pulled it to the ground, shattering it. Klaus took the evidence to the property manager, who shrugged it off saying, “Don’t worry about it.” He wouldn’t even let us pay for it.

Once back at home, I went to the post office to pick up my vacation mail. Passing the drive-up mailbox I noticed it was broken, too. The once-narrow mail slot had been wrenched open to resemble a camping tent, its metal twisted by someone driving too close. No doubt the car’s side mirror went home broken, too.

Yesterday while cleaning out my china hutch, I broke a small mirror. Today I broke a votive candle. And that’s how life goes. Stuff gets broken.

The lamp, mailbox, mirror and votive can be repaired or replaced without too much trouble, but what about breaks that aren’t so easily fixed?

During the same Florida vacation, my nephew-in-law broke his elbow while playing racket ball, careening full force against an unforgiving wall. Three weeks later he’s still experiencing pain and inconvenience from the break, but eventually it’ll heal.

There are other breaks, though, that never seem to mend, like broken hearts. We’ve all had our share through disappointment, treachery, dashed hope, regret, betrayal, death. I think God sees our grief in these situations and comes in close, reminding us of his presence and love. The hurt may not be completely repaired on this side of eternity, but the Lord partners with us to share the burden.

There is one kind of break, however, that causes God to rejoice. It’s the broken heart we experience when convicted of our own sin. Psalm 51 says, “The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.”

A willful break from God leads to a broken spirit, which God is good at fixing. He makes a supernatural repair superior to anything Super Glue can do. And on the other side of that fix is God’s forgiveness and our joy.

I’ve broken quite a few things in my life, but so has God. He’s broken something that turned out to be spectacular for us; he broke the power of sin, which is what Jesus accomplished on the cross. Because of that we are dead to sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. (Romans 6) His break led to our being repaired.

My parents taught these things to us from childhood, and Mom also made sure she covered several other breaks. One night when I was 17 and in a dating relationship, she said, “How’s your love life?” She knew I wouldn’t share any secrets but wanted to crack open the door, just in case.

“Fine,” I said.

Then she said, “If any guy breaks your heart, I’ll break his neck.”

I know that was just her “cool” way of saying she loved me, but when a boy did eventually break my heart, I sure-as-shootin’ didn’t tell Mom.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” (Psalm 34:18)