"Hugging Brokenness: The Untold Story of Bearing the Cuts”

“Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.

All the king’s horses and all the king’s men

Couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again.”

Now, before we begin, let me offer a quick disclaimer: I’ve written about Humpty Dumpty before, but this is part two and yes, I know it is a little lengthy but it promises to be a good read. 

It’s a familiar nursery rhyme, but have you ever paused to wonder: What’s an egg doing on a wall in the first place? Was he put there by someone else, unaware of the danger? Did nobody see him wobbling and think to warn him? Or did Humpty himself insist he was fine, denying his precarious position? And let’s not even get started on the king’s horses—what exactly were they supposed to do to fix an egg? (Horses aren’t exactly known for their dexterity, haha).

This humorous little rhyme takes on a profound twist when we look at our lives. How often do we—or those we care about—find ourselves on precarious “walls”? Walls of emotional strain, mental health struggles, or spiritual weariness. The fall comes, as it always does, and we look to “all the king’s horses and all the king’s men” to patch us up. The world offers its best remedies—distractions, self-help techniques, even well-meaning advice—but too often, they fall short.

But now let’s shift the lens to another fall in Scripture—one with a very different ending. In Acts 20:7-12, we meet a young man named Eutychus. During a long sermon by the apostle Paul, Eutychus, sitting on a window ledge, falls asleep and tumbles three stories to his death. A tragic moment, but unlike Humpty Dumpty, this story doesn’t end with shattered pieces.

Instead, Paul rushes to Eutychus, throws his arms around him, and declares, “Don’t be alarmed; his life is still in him” (Acts 20:10). Through that embrace, God’s power moves, and Eutychus is revived. What all the king’s horses and all the king’s men could never do, God accomplishes in an instant. The difference? Jesus.

We’ve all sat on walls before—walls of pride, denial, or self-reliance. Maybe we put ourselves there, thinking we’re strong enough to balance, or maybe circumstances pushed us into a dangerous position. Sometimes we fall because no one noticed our struggle, or because those around us were too busy or too unsure of how to help. But the lesson of Humpty Dumpty reminds us of the limitations of human efforts. As much as friends, family, or professionals may care for us (and their help is valuable), true healing—heart, mind, body, and soul—comes only from God.

Eutychus’s story highlights something profound: healing begins with presence and touch. When Paul embraced the broken young man, it wasn’t just a human gesture—it was a channel for divine restoration. God’s power flowed through that hug, proclaiming life over death, hope over despair, and wholeness over brokenness. This is the difference Jesus makes. In our brokenness, Jesus doesn’t leave us lying on the ground. He comes to us, wraps us in His love, and declares, “Your life is still in you.” He doesn’t just patch us up; He makes us new.

Let’s not share the same fate as Humpty Dumpty. If you’re on a wall today—emotionally, mentally, or spiritually—don’t wait for the inevitable fall. Call out to God, who sees you, loves you, and longs to embrace you. And if you’ve already fallen, remember: all the king’s horses and all the king’s men may fail, but Jesus never does. His healing touch can mend even the most shattered pieces of your life. If you know someone sitting on their own wall, wobbling and at risk of falling, be their Paul. Offer them the hug of God’s love—through your prayers, your presence, and your encouragement. Point them to the One who restores, revives, and redeems.

The difference between Humpty Dumpty and Eutychus isn’t just the fall—it’s what happened after. Humpty’s fate reminds us of the world’s limitations, but Eutychus’s story proclaims God’s limitless power. Jesus makes the difference. Let Him declare over your life today: “Your life is still in you.”

Here is the twister—Many talk about the beauty of embracing brokenness, but few acknowledge the pain it brings to the hugger. To truly heal others, we must often endure the sharp edges of their wounds, knowing that love’s sacrifice is what brings restoration.

How many of our children, friends, and family members have visited broken graves and navigated a fractured world, moving from one relationship to another in search of a hug? Today, I encourage you to hug someone. Your child, your spouse, a neglected child, a friend… anyone! Just hug someone. Your assignment for today and throughout the weekend is to offer genuine hugs. Let the healing begin with you, and remember to allow yourself to be hugged by someone as well—even if that someone is you.

-Jermy Arnold