Untangling Broken Zippers

I remember snuggling into it on that cold winter day. Was I five or six years old, maybe? It was my favorite winter coat, blue with a fuzzy lining, a warm hood, and those mittens that ran on a string through the sleeves so they didn't get lost. My favorite aunt sat at our kitchen table visiting my family, and I bundled up in my room to proudly show her my favorite coat before going outside to catch my breath in the brisk, cold air.

I happily buttoned my hood around my face and excitedly began to zip up my coat when---uh-oh---the zipper was stuck. I tugged---and tugged again--- but it wouldn't budge. I looked down at my coat and saw that a tiny bit of that precious blue fabric was hung in the zipper.

I don't know what triggered such a strong reaction from me, but I panicked. My parents had never given me any reason to believe they would be angered by a stuck zipper, but my innocent, childish mind felt convinced I had broken my lovely new coat and wasted their expense. It was all my fault. Tears began flowing down my face, as I realized I was trapped in my coat and had no choice but to go ask for help. By the time I stepped into the kitchen, I had to choke out my words between gasping sobs, "I didn't mean to break it!"
   
Immediately, my dad reached down to free me from my entrapment. My mom and aunt simultaneously began consoling me, "It's okay. Zippers just get stuck sometimes. But we'll get it untangled. It's alright." And in just a few short seconds, my beautiful coat had been released from its snare; I had been re-zipped up to my chin and was all bundled up to go outside, the tears ceasing on wet, puffy face.

And while I was too young then to define the grateful relief I felt in that moment,
years later I recognize it as one of my first memories of the sweetness of grace,
the fear of receiving reprobation but being showered with understanding instead,
the surprising realization that no one planned to blame me, but,
on the contrary, reached out eager hands to help.

We all have times we feel like we have broken things we didn't mean to break.
And now I can see the magnitude in those simple words
that comforted and soothed me so many years ago,
those words that I must sometimes remember when I need comforting and soothing again:

It's okay.
Zippers just get stuck sometimes.
But we'll get it untangled.

It's alright.