Monday, June 23, 2008

The Teacup





There was a couple who took a trip to England to shop in a beautiful antique store to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. They both liked antiques and pottery, and especially teacups. Spotting an exceptional cup, they asked "May we see that? We've never seen a cup quite so beautiful."

As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke, "You don't understand. I have not always been a teacup. I once was just a lump of red clay. My master took me and rolled me pounded and patted me over and over and I yelled out, "Don't do that."

"I don't like it!" "Let me alone," but he only smiled, and gently said; "Not yet!"

Then WHAM! I was placed on a spinning wheel and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. "Stop it! I'm getting so dizzy! I'm going to be sick!", I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, quietly; 'Not yet.'

He spun me and poked and prodded and bent me out of shape to suit himself and then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I yelled and knocked and pounded at the door. "Help! Get me out of here!" I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as he shook his head from side to side, 'Not yet'.

When I thought I couldn't bear it another minute, the door opened. He carefully took me out and put me on he shelf, and I began to cool. Oh, that felt so good! "Ah, this is much better," I thought. But, after I cooled he picked me up and he brushed and painted me all over The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. 'Oh, please, Stop it, Stop, I cried. He only shook his head and said. 'Not yet!'.

Then suddenly he put me back in to the oven. Only it was not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I just knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried I was convinced I would never make it. I was ready to give up. Just then the door opened and he took me out and again placed me on the shelf, where I cooled and waited and waited, wondering "What's he going to do to me next?"

An hour later he handed me a mirror and said 'Look at yourself.' And I did. I said, That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful!!!

Quietly he spoke: "I want you to remember, then,' he said, 'I know it hurt to be rolled and pounded and patted, but had I just left you alone, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I know it hurt and it was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened. You would not have had any color in your life. If I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't have survived for long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. Now you are what I had in mind when I first began with you."

The moral of this story is this: God knows what He's doing for each of us. He is the potter, and we are His clay. He will mold us and make us and expose us to just enough pressures of just the right kinds that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing and perfect will.

So when life seems hard, and you are being pounded and patted and pushed almost beyond endurance; when your world seems to be spinning out of control; when you feel like you are in a fiery furnace of trials; when life seems to "stink", try this.

Brew a cup of your favorite tea in your prettiest tea cup, sit down and think on this story and then, have a little talk with the Potter.

author unknown

15 comments:

Lavinia said...

Joy....wow. Wherever did you find this...its such a wise parable. The potter, the clay, the oven, the fumes, the heat, the unbearable feeling, and then the final knowledge that the ultimate "Potter" was behind everything, and is behind everything, and we are being shaped according to his will.

I like your advice at the end. I always find a cup of chamomile tea so soothing, for whatever ails me.

Thank you!

Linda said...

Joy, this story is so beautiful and inspirational. I will remember it when times are tough. Hugs, Linda

PAT said...

Great post, Joy!

All About Home and Oddfellows Cafe are on Main Street across from the jewelry store, in downtown Troy. Easy to find.

Pat

Unknown said...

Joy,
Thanks for the sweet comment about my grandson that you left on my blog. I'm new to blogging...it is addictive for sure!

That is a great post above...and beautiful garden pics below.
I am going to add your blog to my list if you don't mind.
Diane

Mo..."Mo's Cottage" said...

What a beautiful story about the teacup...I'm going to copy that frame it and put it in my kitchen...I collect teacups so this story will fit right in...Thank you.
Hugs,
Mo :-)
P.S. Your flowers are beautiful....

Rue said...

Perfect story for me today ;)

I will pray for your brother's safe return home.

rue

Jan said...

Thank you so much for that story! If ever I needed something inspirational...it's now! That is just perfect!

Jan

Kerri said...

This is a beautiful story with a wonderful message. Thanks for sharing it :)
I'm going to use that sage piece of advise at the end next time I feel the need :)

Anonymous said...

Joy,

What a beautiful story. It means so much to me as a china collector. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks also for your kind comment on my blog about my casserole and my dishes! :)

God bless!

Wanita said...

What a wonderful story of the potter and the clay. I also looked at your garden pictures, and your flowers are absolutely beautiful.

Thank you for stopping and leaving a comment on my blog. I appreciate it so much. Have a great weekend.

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

I love that story! I've given it out at tea parties before! The tea party picture is darling!

Katherine

Anne Fannie said...

I love tea cups and that story is just adorable. Thanks for sharing it. Also, thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a message.

Gone said...

This story is really cute...and ohhh, so true!!

Thanks for the visit and comment tonight.

~Blessings,
Jan

Susie said...

Hi Joy,
Thanks so much for visiting me. I loved this story of the teacup. So much truth here and I'll keep it in mind for those times when life seems hard..
:)

Charlotte said...

What a great story. It certainly brought a lump to my throat. So true. So true.