Mend the Fence
What's Getting in and What's Getting Out?
When I first opened my Christian counseling office, I knew I didn't want it to look sterile and cold like a 1960s doctor's office. I wanted it to breathe—to tell stories. I wanted every corner to remind people of restoration, resilience, and redemption. But I didn't expect a broken-down fence to become my deco centerpiece.
I was driving through my hometown, scavenging for furniture and decor — the kind with soul. Not some showroom shine, but things that had lived a little. That's when I saw it. An old cedar fence, weathered and warped, tossed out for the garbage truck like it had nothing left to offer. Twelve planks of gray cracked wood were piled against a telephone pole.
Forgotten.
Rejected.
Splintered by time.
I couldn't take my eyes off it!
As I loaded the fragments into the back of my truck, something familiar stirred in me — a whisper of purpose, a lesson just waiting to be learned and taught. I thought to myself: What was this fence keeping out all those years? More importantly, what was it trying to keep in? That's when it occurred to me the vital importance for all of us to: "Mend the Fence."
A Spiritual Boundary Line
We all have fences — invisible ones — meant to guard what's sacred and keep out what's toxic. However, we often overlook the damage. We let a few slats break and tell ourselves it's no big deal. We forget that boundaries, once breached, never repair themselves.
As a Christian counselor, I've seen what happens when people ignore the warning signs. Marriages fall apart not from one big blowout, but from little compromises, left unguarded. People lose themselves trying to please others, letting shame and fear crawl through the broken places. They stop mending their fence — and wonder why their peace, joy, or purpose disappeared.
Twelve Planks of Purpose
That fence is now on the wall behind the couch in my office. Not by coincidence, but by divine design, it has twelve planks. There's one to reflect on each month — one boundary to protect, or one barrier to overcome. Six planks are about keeping things in: faith, identity, integrity, relationships, vision, and time. Six planks are about keeping things out: fear, shame, offense, distraction, comparison, procrastination.
Each board represents a lesson, a life checkpoint, a place where something got in — or where something tried to get out.
What are you letting in that's rotting your spirit?
What are you letting escape that should be protected?
It All Starts at the Gate
Building healthy boundaries isn't about walling yourself off from the world. It's about making room for the right things to grow.
Even the best fences have gates — but you hold the key. With the proper gate defined and in place, the boundary has less stress and can last a long time if it's maintained.
Letting the wrong thing in one time might not wreck your life — but make it a pattern, and the whole structure weakens. On the other hand, when you forget to tend the inside — your faith, your calling, your soul — don't be surprised if weeds overtake your garden.
Stepping out by faith and playing close to the edge is one thing, but you were never called to live unguarded.
The Redemption of Broken Boards
That fence on my wall? It's still rough. Still cracked. But it's been repurposed! Just like so many of us, it's redeemed!
Maybe your boundaries have been broken. Maybe you've let the wrong things in — or lost what you were supposed to guard. Maybe it feels like too much damage has been done.
Here's the good news:
God specializes in fence-mending.
He doesn't toss you out on the curb. He picks up what others call worthless. He restores what's broken. And He teaches you how to guard your life with wisdom, grace, and grit.
So next time you feel overwhelmed, violated, or out of control — don't just blame the chaos. Check your fence. Patch the gaps. Reestablish the gate. Mend what matters.
Your soul is worth protecting.
Want to go deeper? Stick around. We're building this fence one plank at a time.
And trust me — it's going to hold.