Beauty in the Broken: Lessons from the Forest
As I visited Priest Lake for my annual getaway, I saw so many new trees had fallen over the past year. But they made the forest more beautiful. Some of the trees were broken in half, some had fallen all the way to the forest floor, some were leaning on another tree as if trying to enjoy the last moments of standing tall as a tree.
Not only did the brokenness of the trees make the forest more beautiful, but also the new seedlings, so soft and gently moving in the breeze, waiting so patiently to grow into tall strong pine trees. The dead pine needles on the forest floor created a carpet-like appearance that I imagine would spark an artist’s excitement to paint the colors and textures.
It’s through the new life, the old and tired, the brokenness, the healing, the light peeking through and the darkness beneath the shadows that makes the forest so beautiful.
What the Forest Teaches Us
We think we need to be perfect to be considered good, beautiful, unique. We think we need to have it all together to be seen as good at what we do. We think we need to clean up the broken pieces as soon as they fall in order to be seen as stable and having it all together.
The forest disagrees.
We can learn something from the forest. So give yourself grace. Allow the brokenness to heal in its time. See the moments that you need to lean on a friend, or fall down completely, as a part of your beauty. A part of what makes you uniquely you.
Just like the forest doesn’t rush to clear away the fallen trees or hide the leaning ones, you don’t need to rush to fix every broken piece of yourself. The seedlings don’t apologize for being small. The fallen trees don’t disappear in shame. The tree leaning on its neighbor doesn’t pretend it can stand alone.
They all exist together, creating something more beautiful than perfection ever could.
Your brokenness, your healing, your moments of leaning on others, your seasons of growth—they’re not flaws in your story. They’re what make it worth telling.
If you’re navigating your own season of brokenness or helping your family through hard moments, you’re not alone. I share more about trauma-informed parenting, healing, and giving yourself grace on the Mending Families Podcast. You can also reach out to me and we can set up a time to talk about the support your family needs HERE