Breakable

(*Song lyrics by Indie-pop artist Ingrid Michaelson)

Sometimes I’m astonished by how very fragile I am. How fragile we all are. How easily a word wounds, a look hurts, a cold shoulder upsets.

Have you ever thought about what protects our hearts?
Just a cage of rib bones and other various parts.

I’ve vowed not to be overly sensitive, and for good reason. Hyper-sensitivity is the curse of self-centeredness. But still . . . we’re each so fragile.

So it's fairly simple to cut right through the mess,
And to stop the muscle that makes us confess.

I have the power to build up and the power to tear down. And sometimes I wield that power carelessly. Thoughtlessly. Selfishly.

And we are so fragile,
And our cracking bones make noise,
And we are just
Breakable, breakable, breakable girls and boys.

Is it any wonder Jesus tells us to love one another? To put one another’s interests above our own? To bear with each other, forgive one another, strengthen one another. To be devoted to one another, honor one another, accept one another. To be kind and compassionate to one another. Encourage one another. Love one another deeply.

Did I mention “love one another” more than once? Yes. So did He. Why? Because . . .

. . . we are so fragile,
And our cracking bones make noise,
And we are just
Breakable, breakable, breakable girls and boys.

(To listen to “Breakable,” go to http://cdbaby.com/cd/michaelson3/from/ingridmichaelson)