The Maasai

  There is a tribe in Africa called the Maasai. Trying their hardest to resist modern influences, they move from place to place along the countryside of Kenya, depending on their needs. In order to protect themselves from predators, they surround their villages with bushes of thorns.

   Many of you know that I have a tattoo on my wrist of a broken heart with a crown of thorns holding it together, with the word "Love" down the side. I haven't shared with a lot of people what exactly that means to me, and I don't plan to share everything here on my blog for the whole world to see. But the basic idea of the tattoo is to  symbolize "Healer of the broken." God has worked so much in my life, and if you've ever heard any part of my story, it is clear the only way I have been able to get through, is simply by the grace of God. And my tattoo is a reminder to me, that God is my healer, and always will be.

   A long time ago, I decided that there was no way I was going to be able to hold all the pieces of my broken heart together, I needed God's help. I distinctly remember one night, I was completely broken, and I had no idea how I could ever be "okay" again. I spent the whole night at the feet of my God, desperate, and hurt. That night, I decided I wasn't going to pick up my heart anymore. There was no reason for it. God was right there, trying to hold it together, but I just wouldn't let him. He layed on my heart Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." and with that verse, he reminded me that He never promised to remove me from all human experience, including hurt, but for those who have a personal relationship with him, the only difficulty I will experience is here on this earth and what is 80 years of pain, in comparison to glory for eternity? Acts 14:22 states "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God".

  Looking back, and still learning to apply it, I am thankful that I get to go through hardships, because when I do, it always seems to bring me so much closer to God. If he delivered me from every ounce of trial, I would never be able to develop the relationship that occurs when God shows himself faithful right in the midst of difficulty, helping me through it.

 Recently, my tattoo has started to mean more to me.  Just like the Maasai people keep bushes of thorns around their villages, God keeps my heart safe by encircling my heart with a crown of thorns. Not only is he holding my heart together, but he is also protecting it with the same crown. Any pain my heart feels, he feels first, and has allowed it to pass through, to ultimately draw me closer to him and to grow me in my walk of faith. How awesome is that!

"As the mountains surround Jerusalem, the Lord surrounds his people now and forever." ~Psalm 125:2