Kintsugi is a 15^th-Century Japanese practise of repairing broken pottery and transforming it into a new work of art with gold. The name of the technique comes from the words “kin” (golden) and “tsugi” (joinery), which translates to “golden repair”, “mended with gold” or “to join with gold”.

There is a powerful message behind Kintsugi. This art of repairing the broken, is a reminder to stay optimistic when things fall apart and to celebrate the flaws, imperfections, and missteps of life.

The Kintsugi technique sees the beauty in the incomplete. It’s a way of repair that celebrates the breakage as part of the object’s history, rather than the end of the story. What is astounding to me is that the repaired item is worth more than the original unbroken one.

If it is possible to put broken pieces back together with gold and in the process create an even more valuable piece of art, then the process of repairing it, makes it, not just stronger and more resilient, but also unique. If anything, THIS gives me hope!

My brother said something the other day that stopped me in my tracks. He said: “Jaana, suffering is a story to be shared, not a secret to be kept”. A piece of pottery, repaired with gold, is such an ornament that reminds us of this wisdom. The gold is the most beautiful part, which wouldn’t even be there if it hadn’t broken in the first place.

Being broken is a gift, because when we are broken, we recognise the need to be made whole. I understand that we would all prefer to avoid brokenness, but no matter how broken we are or have been, God uses our brokenness to create a masterpiece, a true piece of art.

Take heart, because the end result is what really matters. Instead of trying to hide your own brokenness, take comfort in the ‘gold’ that you have been repaired with, because your imperfections and shortfalls become a unique part of your history and the uniqueness adds to your beauty!