My cousin Charlotte entered a tough patch in life and shared her struggles. She's been called to face several life-shattering situations – yet has responded in faith. For instance, she's been fighting a battle against MS for many years. Then, she faced a diagnosis of cancer and the prospect of total hysterectomy. Then, worst of all, the tragic murder of her cousin and best friend, Judy. Judy – a light in everyone's life, a bit of God's sunlight in our world, brutally murdered by serial criminal. This vicious criminal was intentionally put back on the streets by a corrupt judge. The situation was beyond horrible: No justice at all. This judge is one of the hundreds of corrupt judges now siding with criminals, causing honest citizens to pay the price. No one riots for the citizens being raped, abused, attacked, and murdered. The news organizations do not give non-stop coverage for innocent victims of criminal violence. Think about that.

All this weighed on Charlotte. Layers of health problems. Loss of her best friend to murder. Lack of justice. Then other family situations. Understandably, fear rushed over her: Overwhelmed with emotions of darkness and hopelessness.

Then God gave her a picture to encourage her. It is a famous picture called "Girl with Balloon," which was auctioned off by Sotheby's. However, the artist had built a shredder into the frame of the picture, so that if the picture was ever sold, the shredder would activate – and that's what happened. As soon as the hammer went down on the million-dollar sale, the canvas began shredding strips, with half the canvas shredded, just the top of the girl's head and balloon now visible in the frame. People watching were shocked. However, the anonymous woman who bought the picture still wanted it. And now, the rest of the story: Instead of being considered worthless, the value of the painting exponentially increased. The shredded half of the picture only increased its value.

It was renamed, “Love in the Bin” (or “Love in the Trash Can”). And in 2021, it was sold again at Sotheby's Auction for 25+ million dollars!

Char said that God used that shredded painting to speak to her. What it said to her, looking up at the picture, like the girl looking up at the balloon, horrified, thinking, "Oh no! There goes my world!" But from the eyes of the buyer, even halfway shredded, value pours forth. And she quoted her version of Rom. 8:28, "God always works all things for good, for His kids!"

She goes on: "We are who are in the Church, in the Christian life, we all get shredded some point... but now in Christ we are worth so much more!" Amen. God is the one who brings beauty from ashes and determines our worth.

We all eventually feel what the “Girl with Balloon” felt. Hanging there shredded, seemingly worthless, and suddenly, new worth pours forth from the hands of the Artist. Yes, maybe shredded, abused, hurt by life, cast away and devalued by the world. But somehow, greater value springs forth, into eternity. How? God alone.

“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him” (Ps. 62:5). Alleluia! May this year be one of finding your hope and value in God alone. Amen.