Kintsugi (or Kintsukuroi).
That’s what’s it’s called.
The cracks are appreciated and honored as they are filled with gold.
It is now viewed as precious, a thing of great beauty and value.
“Aggrandize the damage…”
Beautiful and worthwhile for having suffered damage. For having marring cracks. For being imperfect.
For being broken.
Helpful, healing lessons, found in these damaged vases and pots, right?
Again…
“Now when they were filled, He says to His disciples, ‘Gather together the fragments having superabounded, so that nothing may be lost.’”
John 6:12
The fuller account is in John 6:1-14. The miracle of the loaves and fishes.
But let’s study verse 12, specifically.
“Now when they were filled…’”
Scripture illustrates how everyone had been satisfied. They ate the loaves and fishes to their hearts content.
All you can eat.
Maybe some ate TOO much, gorging themselves out of a “feast or famine” mentality.
You can relate, right?
Those of us, especially, with disordered eating issues, know all about the binge-purge-starve methods. And it’s compulsive. We are rabid, as we swing from one damaging behavior to another.
Similar?
Addictions and vices, seemingly countless and individual, as grains of sand.
“Now when they were filled…’”
But this, perhaps, can also mean that the search to “get full” was not the answer, for as much as it was promised that it was.
Trying to fill the hole, the ache… with SOMETHING.
And it still didn’t work.
“…He says to His disciples…”
The healing, the promise, and the answer won’t come from something, but from SOMEONE.
A specific Someone.
Our Savior.
Our Messiah.
Our Shepherd.
יֵשׁוּעַ.
You may know and call Him Yahshua, Yehshua, or Jesus.
He’s The One Who deals with our brokenness. He’s The One Who speaks to its value, even while appearing so hopeless.
“…‘Gather together the fragments having superabounded, so that nothing may be lost.’”
Nothing about you is lost to Him.
He can bring redemption from some of the ugliest, most painful things.
He does it all the time.
Why can’t He do it for you right now?
“My sacrifice, O Elohim, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, Elohim, will not despise.”
Psalm 51:17
Wherever you, whatever ugly and hopeless cracks are in your life, turn TO Him now.
He does not hate you; He does not see you as ugly.
You just need to be filled with His Golden Touch.
The cracks are sanctified and beautiful, through Him.
Let’s pray.
Abba,
I come to You, through Our Shepherd.
Your only begotten Son, Our Savior, יֵשׁוּעַ.
You know how broken and cracked I am.
You know how ugly, worthless, hopeless, and disgusting I feel right now.
You know what has happened to me.
You know what I have done.
Forgive me for all my sins, for every debasing and ugly thing I did, out of pain, despair, desperation, anger, and my willing choice to go against You.
Whatever has happened in my life, with and without my direct participation, it has led me here.
Desolate.
I need You; I turn to You.
How can You make anything beautiful or gold from my life?
Please do so, even despite me.
Be my Savior; salvage me, and every cracked and broken thing about me.
I cannot do this on my own.
I need You.
Help me now.
Thank You that You will redeem, beautify, and use my life for Your Glory.
I receive it now.
Amen.
Copyright © 2026 by Sheryle Cruse
