Broken Crayons Still Color

Valerie Cullers 28 Comments

A few weeks ago, I was listening to Shelley Hitz talk about her story of addiction. She titled it, “Broken Crayons Still Color.” I loved that illustration with the hope it brought to my mind. A few days later, one of my friends was telling me about a daughter she lost. As she was telling me about her, a thought came into my mind and wouldn’t leave, “Her daughter was a broken crayon.”

You see, we are all broken crayons, but some of us are broken earlier than others. Her daughter had dealt with many things most of us don’t have to deal with. She dealt with them from the time she was a child. She was a lovely crayon and her colors were truly amazing when she was younger, but there was a time when she was older that the colors began to darken.

As my friend told us, her daughter dealt with drug addiction for many years. Those of us who have dealt with it or had members of our family and friends deal with it know the darkness that can affect their lives and the struggles they deal with. People outside of the circle of close family and friends may still see their bright colors, but those closest have seen and felt the darker hues as they struggle with the ups and downs, the highs and lows.

When we think of our family and friends who have struggled with those things, let us remember the bright colors they brought into our lives, let the darker hues fade and let’s remember them for who they truly were. Those that wanted to make a clean start and begin a new life each day. The people who bravely faced their struggles and who still held onto hope that someday their lives would be different.

Many of them are whole now; they are no longer broken crayons. They are experiencing the beauty and joy of heaven with a God that loved them from the moment they were conceived. A God who was willing to die for them in order to bring them into his Presence when the time came. For this we can be truly thankful.

As we remember them, let us not forget our own brokenness or that of those around us. Let us love each other and share the beauty of our own colors with each and everyone we encounter. Let us keep in mind that many people struggle in silence and only show us their bright colors but they may be experiencing darker hues in their lives. And above all, let us be kind to each other as we never know how fragile the broken crayon next to us is.

Image by Borka Szalbo’. Coutesty of Pixabay.

28 thoughts on “Broken Crayons Still Color”

  2. Lovely, Valerie.

    Brings to mind the Ian Maclaren quote often misattributed, most often to Plato or Robin Williams if slightly altered. Doesn’t matter really. The thought is true.

    “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”
    And we can add, “fighting a desperate struggle that we know nothing about.”

    So kindness is the least we can do for each other.
    Yes, broken crayons can still make beautiful pictures.

    Thanks for this.

    Liked by 2 people

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  5. Wow Valerie! What.a beautiful encouragement this is for those who are hurting due to addictions. However, it can also apply to anything, mental illness, health crisis, etc. once again, your post has me ponds a few things.

    Liked by 2 people

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  6. Kindness has been on my mind for a while now – and I love the analogy of the broken crayons. In that vein, sometimes you just have to peel off the dingy paper to reveal the bright colors beneath!!

    Liked by 3 people

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  8. Yes! There’s a popular church in L.A. called Mosaic, Valerie. The reason for the title, their website explains, is that even thought we’re all broken, broken pieces brought together by God can still make something beautiful.

    Liked by 2 people

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