Gathered Fragments

by Harriet Michael

And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” John 6:12 ESV

I first noticed this verse in an old handwritten journal-type book my father has on his shelf. It was handed down to him by his mother, who got it from her mother.

On the pages of the book are poems gathered and carefully written by its first owner. Some are famous poems, while others are original works by family members. My grandmother and even my father have some original poems hand-written by them in this treasured book. The book is titled, “Gathered Fragments,” and part of this verse is written in beautiful penmanship on the first page.

The above words in Scripture were actually Jesus’ instruction to his disciples after the miraculous feeding of five thousand people. It was lunchtime, and the people who had gathered were without food. Most had come spontaneously without planning ahead. At Jesus’ request, the disciples found a little boy with a small lunch of five loaves of bread and two small fish. After blessing the food, Jesus broke it into pieces, and had the disciples distribute them to the hungry crowd, who consumed it eagerly. Then, when the crowd had eaten all they wanted, the disciples were told to “Gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost.”

Isn’t that a beautiful instruction? I am reminded of it every fall when the squirrels scamper all around gathering up nuts to store for the winter.

How do you gather fragments? Do you have a collection of some type—rocks, coins, or stamps, maybe? Do you keep old photos and relics from years gone by, polished and sitting in a place of honor in your home?

My father had a plaque hanging in his home for years of an old letter he’d written to his mother from camp as a child. His sister found the letter and made it a very special birthday gift for him one year. Do you carefully hold onto family heirlooms so you can pass them to the next generation?

Or maybe you gather fragments in other ways. Maybe you freeze or can produce for winter or maybe you gather and dry herbs, fruits, or vegetables.

There are so many ways to gather fragments. Through the years, I have learned another way. I have had more than one opportunity to help gather the broken pieces of a loved one’s shattered life. While others shatter through accusations, anger, or gossip, my heart aches and longs to help the broken friend rebuild their life again. I remember how God has more than once done the same for me. 

God is a fragment gatherer. He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds. He brings beauty out of their ashes. He turns their sorrow into joy.

Do you know someone whose life has been shattered and broken? Ask God how can you help them. May He make us sensitive to the people around us that need us to come alongside to lend our support. May we always remember Jesus’ instructions to “Gather up the fragments that nothing be lost.”

When the disciples gathered the leftovers in the Bible story, they had twelve baskets full of food. Though this was a miraculous occurrence, the underlying principle is still valid. If you or I form fragment-gathering habits, we will find abundance in our lives, too. And so will others whom we bless with our fragments–carefully gathered and lovingly given.

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Harriet E. Michael is an award-winning and widely published author and freelance writer. She has authored or co-authored ten books, with three more under contract for release in 2024 and ’25. She has penned hundreds of articles and devotions that have been published in various publications. Her autumn devotional, Glimpses of God, focuses on how we can prepare for change and the possibility of difficult days ahead. Autumn also represents abundance and blessings.

Join the conversation: Has God restored or rebuilt something for you with your shattered fragments?