Beautiful Messes

I keep forgetting I’m not 20 years old anymore. This past week, I pulled a crazy stunt on my horse. I decided to go bareback riding after a long ride in the saddle. I jumped from a mounting block and attempted a-kind-of-dive toward the soft part of Daisy’s back, but somehow landed on the bony part of her withers. I immediately heard a crack. An Urgent Care visit was not on our schedule for the day. I’m thankful for my new normal…. ribs-that-hurt-like-crazy-but-not-broken. I guess I should be relieved? I’m hoping no one notices how I make these weird noises when I try to cough or sneeze. Maybe no one will observe how I attempt to get in and out of my car. I resemble Flash, my favorite sloth working in the DMV in the movie Zootopia. Its. Really. Really. Slow. Somehow, this new normal describes what we all sometimes feel. On the outside, we appear like all is well. But, on the inside, we got stuff going on that's not cool. Hurts. Pains. Bruises. Emotions. Brokenness. Fears. Concerns. How do we live in the tension? I love Lady Antebellum and really love Hillary Scott’s music. I kind of get the concept of a beautiful mess. I’m living it. Beautiful Messes Are you spinning in a lie that keeps on telling you That you’re not good enough When you’re looking in the mirror Do you see someone impossible to love? Full of fragile broken pieces We’re all rough around the edges We ain’t perfect no We ain’t even close We got holes in our hearts We got scars we don’t show But all that baggage we Keep on dragging around Anytime we start laying it down. Lay it down at the foot of the cross Give it to the one who can carry it all Even at our worst, to him we ain’t lost causes Just beautiful messes.   We’re all David’s we’re all Mary’s We’ve been liars, thieves and everything between But don’t forget God used the misfits just like us To do the most amazing things.   So bring your faults, your flaws, your secrets And watch Him use those broken pieces…… Written by: BEN GLOVER, CONNIE HARRINGTON, HILLARY SCOTT I’m so grateful for my beautiful mess. I can’t believe God wants to use even the broken pieces of my life for His glory. I don’t have to hide my faults and flaws from God or anyone for that matter.   Don’t forget… God wants to use all of us, flaws and all. He wants to use us to do amazing things. Will you partner with Him for the ride of your life? Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.