Ceramics are fragile and easily break when dropped or hit. Usually, once a ceramic piece is shattered, it’s considered useless and simply thrown away. But in some cases, a broken piece gains even greater value—thanks to a technique called kintsugi.
Kintsugi is a Japanese word that combines kin (gold) and tsugi (joining). It’s the traditional art of repairing broken pottery by filling the cracks with a mixture of lacquer and gold powder. The story goes that in the 15th century, a Japanese general broke his favorite tea bowl and sent it to China for repairs. It came back held together with unsightly metal staples. Disappointed, he decided to have it repaired with gold instead, creating something both functional and beautiful. Since then, kintsugi has become a respected art form, appreciated for both its meticulous craftsmanship and the golden scars that turn flaws into features.
Our hearts, too, can feel shattered by life’s trials. But if we take the time to heal, those painful experiences don’t have to remain as scars. Instead, they can become the very things that make us stronger, deeper, and more beautiful—just like a once-broken bowl that now shines with golden seams.