Joanna skipped along beside her mother. They were going to an "open house" at her sister Kaylynn's school. "How will we find Kaylynn?" asked Joanna.
"She said she'd be in her pottery class," answered Mom, "and she gave me directions to get to it." Joanna and her mother soon found the place where Kaylynn was working, and they sat down quietly at the back of the room.
The class instructor was at his potter's wheel, demonstrating how to make a clay vase. The students watched and then began work on their own projects. "Kaylynn's good, isn't she?" whispered Joanna, watching her big sister at work.
"Yes," agreed Mom. "The vase she's making will be lovely filled with flowers."
"She's making it for her Sunday school room," said Joanna. She sighed. "Jon teaches Sunday school, Whitney sings in the choir, and Kaylynn makes pretty things for church and Sunday school. But me . . . I'm like . . ." Joanna gestured towards the instructor's table. "I'm like one of those ugly lumps of clay."
"Joanna," said Mom gently, "the vase Kaylynn is making was a lump of clay like those. And so was the one the instructor is making. Those lumps are the clay the potter uses to make beautiful things."
Joanna looked at the instructor, who was again at the potter's wheel. A tall vase was being shaped by his skillful fingers. "Imagine one of those ugly lumps ending up like that!" exclaimed Joanna.
"You know, honey, we're all somewhat like the lumps of clay," said Mom gently. "On our own, we can do nothing. But God is our 'potter,' and He skillfully molds and shapes us into something useful. All He requires of us is that we be pliable and . . ."
"What does plia . . . plia . . . pli-whatever-mean?" asked Joanna.
"Pliable! That means being soft and easy to mold," explained Mom. "If the clay is hard, it's also hard to mold it, and if we are stubborn and our hearts are hard-if we're not willing to do the things that please God-He can't shape our lives into something beautiful." She smiled at Joanna. "You're not like an 'ugly' lump of clay," added Mom. "You're like a pliable one. You're a thoughtful little girl, and I'm sure Jesus appreciates your kindness to your friends and all the errands you run for me and Grandma and your teachers."
MEMORY VERSE: O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter . . . we are the work of Your hand. Isaiah 64:8
HOW ABOUT YOU? Are you learning-and willing-to do the things that please God? Do you try to please Him in all your thoughts and words and actions? You don't have to feel less important than others even if you can't speak or sing or draw or study as well as your brothers or sisters or friends. The important thing is to be willing to do what God wants you to do. Then you'll be like pliable clay, and God will use you to accomplish His work on earth.
THE KEY: Yield yourself to God
"She said she'd be in her pottery class," answered Mom, "and she gave me directions to get to it." Joanna and her mother soon found the place where Kaylynn was working, and they sat down quietly at the back of the room.
The class instructor was at his potter's wheel, demonstrating how to make a clay vase. The students watched and then began work on their own projects. "Kaylynn's good, isn't she?" whispered Joanna, watching her big sister at work.
"Yes," agreed Mom. "The vase she's making will be lovely filled with flowers."
"She's making it for her Sunday school room," said Joanna. She sighed. "Jon teaches Sunday school, Whitney sings in the choir, and Kaylynn makes pretty things for church and Sunday school. But me . . . I'm like . . ." Joanna gestured towards the instructor's table. "I'm like one of those ugly lumps of clay."
"Joanna," said Mom gently, "the vase Kaylynn is making was a lump of clay like those. And so was the one the instructor is making. Those lumps are the clay the potter uses to make beautiful things."
Joanna looked at the instructor, who was again at the potter's wheel. A tall vase was being shaped by his skillful fingers. "Imagine one of those ugly lumps ending up like that!" exclaimed Joanna.
"You know, honey, we're all somewhat like the lumps of clay," said Mom gently. "On our own, we can do nothing. But God is our 'potter,' and He skillfully molds and shapes us into something useful. All He requires of us is that we be pliable and . . ."
"What does plia . . . plia . . . pli-whatever-mean?" asked Joanna.
"Pliable! That means being soft and easy to mold," explained Mom. "If the clay is hard, it's also hard to mold it, and if we are stubborn and our hearts are hard-if we're not willing to do the things that please God-He can't shape our lives into something beautiful." She smiled at Joanna. "You're not like an 'ugly' lump of clay," added Mom. "You're like a pliable one. You're a thoughtful little girl, and I'm sure Jesus appreciates your kindness to your friends and all the errands you run for me and Grandma and your teachers."
MEMORY VERSE: O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter . . . we are the work of Your hand. Isaiah 64:8
HOW ABOUT YOU? Are you learning-and willing-to do the things that please God? Do you try to please Him in all your thoughts and words and actions? You don't have to feel less important than others even if you can't speak or sing or draw or study as well as your brothers or sisters or friends. The important thing is to be willing to do what God wants you to do. Then you'll be like pliable clay, and God will use you to accomplish His work on earth.
THE KEY: Yield yourself to God
3 comments:
Thanks for sharing this, Sweetie.
I remember when you went to Vacation Bible School a few years back and did a study about this scripture. Do you remember talking about water for our heart?
God created each and every one of us for a purpose. I know he created me to be your Mom and that is my greatest honor! I also know he created you for a wonderful purpose...and I can't wait to see where he leads you!
I love you,
Mom
I love this dedication, Kayla! It's so true...God can do amazing things with our lives, if we let Him. It's so great to see your open heart for the Lord. He wants that intimate relationship with you, His own masterpiece.
xoxo
Hi Sis!
I love this dedication! It's a wonderful reminder to let the Lord be the potter in our lives...the one who shapes us and molds us!!
I appreciate so much that you are not only studying the subjects in school...but also studying God's word! His guidance in our lives makes EVERYTHING better!
I sure do love you sweetie! Your Nana
Post a Comment