The room was quiet, save for the subtle clicks and clinks as I delicately maneuvered the broken robot’s pieces. My fingers traced the fractured edges, the tangible evidence of a once-whole toy now reduced to scattered parts on the table. Across from me sat my son, his eyes reflecting a mix of disappointment and hope.
I pulled up a chair and picked up a broken limb. “Let’s see if we can put this back together, shall we?”
An uncertain glance met my gaze. “Do you think we can fix it?”
I offered a reassuring smile. “Absolutely. Things break, but we have a chance to mend them.”
As we navigated the intricacies of wires and connected parts, I couldn’t escape the metaphorical weight of the broken robot. Life, much like this toy, often splinters into fragments that seem irreparable. How frequently do we find ourselves akin to shattered pieces in need of reconstruction?
My son looked up, eyes searching for answers. “Can we really fix it, Dad?”
Taking a moment, I chose my words with care. “There’s an important idea I want to share with you: redemption. It’s more than just fixing; it’s about making things new, better than they were before.”
A furrowed brow signaled contemplation. “How do we do that, Dad?”
With a deep breath, I seized the chance to convey a profound truth. “Life, my son, is a bit like this broken toy. We make mistakes, we break things, and sometimes it feels like we’re beyond repair. But there’s someone who can mend our brokenness in a way we can’t do on our own. It’s like God's redemptive love.”
Interest flickered in searching eyes.
“God loves us so much that he sent his Son, Jesus, to show us the way,” I explained. “Through faith in Christ, we experience redemption—a renewal that heals the broken parts of our lives and makes us whole again.”
I opened the Bible app on my phone to share a verse that reinforced my words. “In 2 Corinthians 5:17, it says, 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
My son absorbed the words, his gaze shifting from the toy to me. “So God fixes us like we’re fixing the robot?”
I nodded. “Exactly. God’s love is the glue that binds our broken pieces together, making us stronger and better. It’s about forgiveness, grace, and a chance to start anew.”
As we completed the reconstruction, my son held up the repaired toy, a smile breaking across the face. “It's like new again, Dad!”
I tousled his hair in silent appreciation. “And that, my son, is a taste of redemption. No matter how broken things may seem, there’s always hope and a chance for a fresh start.”
About the Author
Dan Veeneman works in the dairy industry as a ventilation specialist. He lives in Abbotsford, B.C., with his wife and three children. He is a member of Gateway Community Church.
