That every long lost dreamLed me to where you areOthers who broke my heartThey were just northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving armsThis much I know is trueThat God blessed the broken roadThat lead me straight to you
~ Bless the Broken Road, Rascal Flatts
We danced to this song, my high school sweetheart and I, on our wedding day. Surrounded by friends and family, this was the song that we knew was ours. Sweet words of brokenness redeemed sung by two of our best friends, a promise to one another that this road? It was ours now to walk together.
It’s all part of a grander plan.
Sitting here today, it’s still “my” song. I see God at work redeeming my brokenness over and over. In my marriage, in friendships, in work. He has taken me down streets lined with closed doors – roads I thought were simply broken for me. Why did it seem that it those doors opened for everyone else? Why wasn’t it my turn?
And now, I see it. I see that those doors simply weren’t meant for me. That the lessons learned along the broken road have led me to this. To a place where I can dream big, where experiencing good community is healing me from broken community. Not just in friendships but in corporate work settings and church and online. My heart, broken by others, is now broken for Jesus. Those hard roads have chipped away at the hard wall built up and I’ve been left with something patched and scarred.
And beautiful.
Beautiful indeed! I love it when God brings us to the place where we can look back and see exactly what He was doing. It has been a joy to see how He has worked in your life, Crystal! Thrilled for you!!!
The broken road leads straight. Beautiful. Yes.
Oh how I love this song! this post is lovely – “patched, scarred and beautiful”. have a great weekend.
Oh yes, it IS beautiful and I just love what brokenness is doing in you…How He is working in and THROUGH you…such a gift! xoxo
We played that song during our wedding while we took communion together! Such a good couples song! 🙂
Crystal, I am so thankful that God took your road to intersect with mine! 🙂 and I love watching your path unfold as you pursue your passions and God’s dreams for your life!
Crystal! I love this post and how you connected the song back to redemption.
LOVE this song, and LOVE your post today!! 🙂
That’s a great song. It makes me think of Unanswered Prayers by Garth Brooks too. There are a lot of prayers and paths in my past that seems so important at the time, but I’ glad things didn’t happen the way I wanted!
Dear Crystal
The words of the song that says those ones that have hurt us, are just northern stars, are such a comfort to me. Oh, how I wish I was a norther star all the times I have hurt others. Yes, I thnk we all were receivers AND givers of hurt and I am glad that our Pappa will even use that for our good.
Blessings XX
Mia
I do love that song. Our scars are beautiful because they remind us of who we have been. Love this!
The verse that keeps popping into my mind is that ALL things work together for the GOOD of those called according to God’s purpose! Love watching the journey, friend.
Thank you for sharing this. I don’t always want my own doors to close but when I see the new ones opened I’m amazed. Beautiful!
And thank you for giving me the encouragement to write. In just one month God has done amazing things and used you as a platform for me. Blessings to you my friend.
Crystal,
I will be getting married in January and this will be the song for our first dance. I can so relate with why these lyrics resonated with you…they do for my fiancé and me. Thank you for sharing from your heart!
Blessings,
Bev
I love this quoteOthers who broke my heartThey were just northern stars
Wonderful way of looking at it. I think that picture will stay with me for awhile.
I love that song and I love your heart. Broken for Jesus. So much Amen!
SO beautiful. 🙂 Loved your words here, friend!
I love that song 🙂 made me smile. Thank you so much for sharing. Have a blessed weekend. Tara.
“My heart, broken by others, is now broken for Jesus.” May this be true for me. I’m so glad He keeps those doors closed for us so we can flourish in the paths He has waiting just for us. Happy Friday, friend!
She’s prettier in person. Which means I guess we’ll all just have to meet… 😉
Love this song! And loved your post too, Crystal. Thanks for sharing your words with us!
goosebumps. It’s amazing. Just amazing.
I love the peace that comes when we accept the closed doors aren’t meant for us and then the joy that follows when the doors He opens are revealed to be much greater than we could’ve imagined! Blessings to you!
Love the line, “Those hard roads have chipped away at the hard wall built up and I’ve been left with something patched and scarred.” May He continue to refine and mold each of us with every passing day and every lingering trial, for His glory.
LOVE that song! It makes me so happy to know it was your first dance song! Perfect!
It has been really awesome to watch the way He’s opening doors for you, friend. I just love your heart and the way you love others…He’s using you in so many ways. Wishing you a great Friday and weekend…I hope you get to do something fun! 🙂
Oh I just started singing along… I love that song. And friend… you are courageous in every way. How you are embracing this path that God has you on and finding Him in the middle of your brokenness – it is humbling. You inspire. And you are GORGEOUS!