People usually come to therapy, “broken”, in some way or another. Whether it’s a break up, a loss, life transition, or overwhelming symptoms of depression or anxiety, something feels broken, or they themselves feel broken.
As a mental health therapist, this is the work I am blessed to do, to be with and love people who courageously show up to share their broken hearts. It seems ironic, that relationship is both the cause of and the cure to our deepest wounds. It is in the rupture, loss, or absence of relationship where we experience the most profound pain. And when someone loves us, shows us kindness, or witnesses to our suffering, we can experience a restoration that can soothe the pain, though its mark can never be completely erased from our story.
I have found that as I start to see my own brokenness as the reality of my humanity and a way to receive love, rather than a shameful barrier to love, my heart has expanded and my relationship with Jesus has deepened. It is in the painful, and beautiful vulnerability of being received with love in our brokenness that we can encounter the deepest truth, goodness, and beauty of our Lord, who allowed himself to be broken like us, and for us.
So, as we pray for broken families, for our broken human family, and as we ourselves feel the ache of our brokenness and long for the fullness of being with a perfect and heavenly family, let us not fear the brokenness. Let us face the reality of it with faith, hope, and with bold confidence in our Savior who was broken for us, who redeemed suffering so that the evil of sin and death could be transformed into beauty and life. Let us start with ourselves and ask Him for the grace we need. Let us forgive and ask for forgiveness. Let us see the gifts in ourselves and in each other. Let us see, even in our differences and across divides, that we belong to each other. That our deepest identity is not our brokenness, but our belovedness.
Bria Halama is a LCP in Milwaukee, WI. She received her degree from Divine Mercy University and is involved with the JPII Healing Center’s Inner Healing Prayer Ministry in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.