07/15/2026
🕰️WELLNESS WEDNESDAY🕰️
(Disclaimer: This one's long. In fact, it might take you a few readings to complete it. It's long enough that I'm actually considering making it a devotional journal. I've been working on it for a few weeks and truly feel it's worth the read. I hope it touches your heart, mind, and spirit like it has mine.)
TIME, TRUTH, AND TRANSFORMATION: A TRAUMA-INFORMED REFLECTION ON IDENTITY AND GOD'S DESIGN FOR YOUR LIFE
Written by Fellow Journey-er Tammy Morrison, LPC
A CLOCK
For as long as I can remember, my dad had a wooden rectangle framed clock that sat on his desk in his office. I can’t remember when the clock actually stopped working, but when it did, he started using it as a frame with a photo of my grandpa.
Daddy kept this picture of Popo right in his line of vision. My dad was very clear about the legacy he felt his dad had established for our family. I know how much it meant for him to be able to have my grandpa’s picture where he could see it everyday.
Several years ago, before my dad died, he gave me the broken clock frame. Eventually, I removed my grandpa’s picture and added it to my family photos, but I couldn’t bring myself to part with the clock, although it no longer worked.
I found it meaningful to have this token as a reminder of my dad. And like many ordinary objects, it quietly occupied its place while countless conversations happened around it, decisions were made, lives were encouraged, and wisdom was shared, just like it’d done in daddy’s office for all those years.
The problem was the clock no longer worked. It didn't keep time, and it couldn't be repaired (I know because I tried a handful of batteries). After quite some time, I asked myself why on earth I was still holding onto something that no longer fulfilled its original purpose.
This thought intensified when I began preparing for my move from Texas to Arkansas a few months ago. Still, though, I couldn’t bring myself to add it to the giveaway pile, much less the throw-away pile. I told myself I’d find a purpose for it when I got where I was going. Little did I know what would transpire a few weeks later.
A CALLING
Unbeknownst to me, turns out my new office furniture and decor came together seamlessly and VOILA! the broken clock frame matched and fit perfectly in my new space. I placed the clock on a shelf next to one of my many wooden “hope” words, right alongside a wooden dandelion piece with the inspirational declaration: “Live a great story.”
Day after day passed, and I’d sit and stare at the broken clock amongst the inspirational arrangement I’d curated for that shelf. Day after day, I’d reflect about whether or not I should just buy and replace the clock guts. One morning, in the middle of my pondering and praying, a different thought flooded my mind: Maybe the clock didn't need to tell time anymore…maybe all it needed was a new purpose. The thought that hit me like a ton of bricks (thank you, God) was this: "What if I set that clock to the exact time I was born?"
Now hear me out, please: It’s not because that particular minute possesses any power. Instead, the clock could become something much more meaningful than it already was, even surpassing the use it had fulfilled for many years, first as a clock that could correctly tell time, then a frame to hold a loved one's image: This "broken" clock could now become a personal symbol and daily reminder that the God who created time also lovingly chose the moment my earthly story would begin. And THAT is where the significance resides.
Instead of reminding me what time it is, it could remind me of why my time matters. Every glance toward that clock could become a quiet invitation: "Lord, thank You for the gift of my life…help me use this gift well…help me become the person You created me to be…help me fulfill my purpose you’ve called me to."
A PURPOSE
This startling epiphany that the broken clock didn’t have to be viewed as broken anymore set my soul on fire. This AHA! moment captured a new sense of purpose in my own heart, mind, and spirit with a fresher, deeper perspective (yes, therapists need this, too).
At that moment, I got up from my desk chair (and I don't mind sharing, with a sob and tears in my eyes), and I reverently changed the time on the “broken” clock to 6:03, the moment that I entered this world.
Every time I glance at that unmoving time on the clock, I’m reminded of the message: “This is when my story on earth began…my destiny and purpose began at this precise moment in time…my life matters…I was born for such a time as this.”
For me, this simple wooden framed clock has become so much more than just some office decor (although, as I mentioned, it does look beautiful and fits perfectly in my space). It serves as a reminder for me to live my life intentionally and mindfully, fulfilling my calling...my purpose.
What also sings to my soul is that not only do I get to integrate using something so meaningful in my office that my dad used in his, I recognize the greatest gift isn’t actually about the clock, it’s the legacy, the heritage. Daddy also invested in people, he encouraged others, and he lived a life that matters. Even to this day, nearly 10 years since he's been gone, his life continues to matter.
The countless ways that I love God, myself and others, that I listen, teach, write, encourage, and serve have all been shaped, in part, by my dad who first poured into me. His impact has continued long after his earthly life ended. His story is still being told, through me, and through every life I have the privilege to encounter. I'm so honored that I get to experience a beautiful reminder of influence.
MORE THAN A CLOCK: A VISUAL REMINDER OF YOUR PURPOSE
We’re all aware that life has a way of distracting us. Responsibilities pile up, relationships become complicated, major shifts take place through so many different experiences: Loss, grief, disappointment, fear, and uncertainty. I often tell my clients that sometimes life just gets in the way of living and, before we even realize it, we can wind up scraping by, merely surviving instead of truly living.
Often, based on life's situations or circumstances, we find ourselves caught up in a vicous cycle of surviving to↪️sur-thriving to↪️thriving, without any awareness or tools for how to live in each space in healthy ways. This cycle repeats itself again and again. It's in this hellacious vortex of surviving to sur-thriving that we can lose our sense of who we really are, which can affect our sense of purpose.
I’d like to invite you to consider finding your own clock and setting it to the exact time YOU were born. Let me reiterate from what I mentioned before: Setting a clock to your birth moment doesn’t hold some mystical power, but it can serve as a tangible reminder that your life began at a specific moment in history, chosen by God as your very own purpose, your very own personal “for such a time as this.” You are not an accident…you are ordained by God to be here, at this very moment in history. He orchestrated your destiny. You are here on purpose, FOR a purpose!
WHEN TRAUMA MAKES US FORGET
"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom,” Psalm 90:12 (NIV).
There is something profoundly meaningful about remembering where your story began. One of the heartbreaking realities of trauma is that it often distorts how you see yourself.
Pain whispers that you're too damaged. Shame tells you you're not enough, that you’re inadequate. Guilt creates a chasm that intensifies separation. Loss convinces you that your best days are behind you. Unfortunately, many people eventually stop asking, "Why was I born? What's my purpose?" because they've begun believing their life no longer matters.
As a trauma therapist, I've seen something different. I've experienced the honor of witnessing, firsthand, people rediscover hope after unimaginable grief. I've watched survivors reclaim their voices. I've seen individuals who once believed they were beyond healing begin living with courage, peace, joy, and hope again.
Here’s the thing: Healing doesn't erase your story. It redeems it. Redemption is about being freed from bo***ge…those wicked chains that bind you. Redemption is a transaction of trading pain for purpose. Those agonzing chapters you’ve experienced become part of a much larger story of restoration, resilience, and God's ongoing work within you.
I've said it many times, and I'll say it many more: There is nothing–NO THING–that can trap you into the despair that you are beyond repair. You are not too damaged to experience life-giving transformation, even if for a time it has seemed that way.
HEALING IS BECOMING
Healing isn’t simply feeling better. It's a dynamic, ongoing navigation to experience meaning, purpose, and connection to yourself, as well as others. It’s learning that your nervous system can find safety again. It's implementing wholesome practices of self-compassion, space for grace, and exercising gentleness for your heart, mind, body, and soul.
Healing is discovering that your emotions deserve compassion instead of criticism. Remember that your emotions are God-given indicators to alert you that something deserves to be addressed and tended to. Your God-given emotions are not dictators that can force you into bo***ge. You are NOT your feelings...you EXPERIENCE your feelings, then you determine what to do with them in adaptive, healthy ways. When your emotions speak, it's vital to pay attention and listen to what they're saying. They're important God-given data to help clear a blockade in your pathway.
Healing is about replacing shame with truth, fear with trust, isolation with connection, and self-condemnation with grace. Focus on this truth: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” Romans 8:1 (NIV).
Healing doesn't ask you to pretend your wounds never existed; instead, it gently reminds you that your wounds no longer have to determine your identity. Healing is a wonderful and beautiful discovery leading you to the other side of your pain.
GOD'S DESIGN: BORN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
The words spoken to Esther in Old Testament scripture continue to inspire folks today: "And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14 (NIV). I encourage you to read this fascinating account of this amazing human–it’s quite the story.
While those words "for such a time as this" were spoken to a specific woman in a unique moment of history, let them soak in and remind you of a timeless truth: God works through ordinary people who are willing to trust Him.
What would it be like to remember that your life has meaning, your story matters, your gifts were given to you for a reason. And what about this? Your experiences (even the painful ones) can become places where God brings healing, wisdom, and hope, not just for you, but also to others.
That's why keeping your birth time visible can become such a beautiful practice. Again, not because the numbers themselves hold sacred power, but because they point your heart toward the One who does. Every time you see that clock, remember these important and vital truths:
- God knew the exact moment your earthly journey would begin.
- He has walked beside you through every season since.
- And today, once again, He invites you to live with courage, purpose, humility, love, and hope.
My heart’s prayer is that your life becomes more than just a collection of years and that it becomes a reflection of God's grace revealed in your life...to you and to others. I pray that you continually grow into the person He created you to be and that every day you’re reminded that you were, indeed, born for such a time as this.
TRANSFORMATION: LIVING A LIFE THAT MATTERS
Every day, you're presented with a choice.
- Will you simply exist (survive)?
- Or will you intentionally live (thrive)?
Just as the wooden dandelion piece in my office I mentioned earlier inspires “Live a great story,” living a great life isn’t (or shouldn’t be) measured by accomplishments alone. The greatest fulfillment doesn't come from chasing success, money, recognition, or applause. While it’s true that those things may satisfy you for a season, they were never designed to fill the deepest places of your human heart.
A great life is measured by the people you've loved (including yourself), the hope you've experienced and shared, the forgiveness you've offered and received, and the faith you’ve experienced and lived.
THE DAILY PRACTICE OF REMEMBERING: FIND YOUR CLOCK
Imagine, if you will, beginning every morning by noticing a small clock set to your birth time, as I’ve encouraged you to do. Not rushing past it, but simply allowing it to interrupt your hurry for a few quiet seconds. In essence, it's practicing the pause. Here's a way you can begin...
Practice this breath prayer with me now. Take one slow breath.
- Inhale deeply, offering this simple prayer:
“Thank You, Lord, for the gift of today.”
- Exhale gently, offering this prayer:
“Help me love and live well, fulfilling my purpose.”
Over time, this mindful practice becomes something sacred. Allow me to reiterate: Not because the clock with your birth time changes you, but because your attention changes…your perspective shifts. Your heart becomes more aware of God's presence throughout the ordinary moments of life, reminding you and assuring you of your purpose.
Intentionally pursue living each day with the confidence that your life is not defined by the minute you were born; it's defined by the God who lovingly created you (Psalm 139). He faithfully walks beside you and continually invites you into the beautiful purpose He has prepared for you. You are destined for such a time as this.
⏰💞NOW GO FIND A CLOCK! 💞⏰
(Yes, the items in the attached photo are the ones I've referenced in this writing. Pursue your purpose, beautiful people!)
