Fall54 Posted July 18, 2004 Share Posted July 18, 2004 Tea cup I never There was a couple who used to go England to shop in a beautiful antique store. This trip was to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. They both liked antiques and pottery, and especially tea-cups. 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 and suddenly the tea-cup spoke, "You don't understand" It said, "I have not always been a tea-cup. There was a time when I 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...... 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 the 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 it!!' 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 mould 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 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remembering Dave Posted July 18, 2004 Share Posted July 18, 2004 So beautiful, Thank you for sharing. David C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.C. Posted July 18, 2004 Share Posted July 18, 2004 Thank you so much, having a cup of tea, in a very pretty cup. J.C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine Posted July 18, 2004 Share Posted July 18, 2004 Thank you Jane. Pls know I am thinking of you and your dear husband through the hard times you are having now with his throat. I hope you sit today with a fine cup of tea. love elaine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie Daughter of Bill Posted July 18, 2004 Share Posted July 18, 2004 Thank you for that story! My hubby and I just had a discussion last night similar to this. I was telling my hubby that I was sorry about all the crying on our vacation, but that I was only human. I told him to bear with me, that I am not perfect, that God is working on me everyday. I also told him that while I'm not perfect now, one day I will be. Thanks to the Good Lord. Jane, you and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers daily. I am praying that your husband can be healed of whatever is ailing his throat. You know, he can be healed with just one touch of God's hand. In my thoughts and prayers~~~ Angie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stand4hope Posted July 18, 2004 Share Posted July 18, 2004 Ahhhhhhhhhhh, Jane. So true. So true. Everyone on this board has been pounded, molded, burned and shaped into beautiful, loving, caring people. Even if God isn't the one that puts us in the oven, He is the one that will take us out. Thank you, my dear. Love, Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyCW Posted July 18, 2004 Share Posted July 18, 2004 Jane, I love this and will be sending it to my sister, who is a potter herself, if David hasn't already do so! In fact, I'll be sending it to a lot of people who I know will find as much meaning in it as I did. Thank you, BeckyCW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa O Posted July 19, 2004 Share Posted July 19, 2004 That is great. I am going to make a cup of tea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berisa Posted July 19, 2004 Share Posted July 19, 2004 Jane, this is so beautiful but the process is very unbearable Thanks for sharing. I hope it would have appeared earlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadstimeon Posted July 19, 2004 Share Posted July 19, 2004 Very nice Jane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJAS Posted July 20, 2004 Share Posted July 20, 2004 Lovely, Jane. Going to have Steve read this before going in for chemo next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy Posted July 22, 2004 Share Posted July 22, 2004 Isnt that just so true.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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