The potter & his clay

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, they said vow what a master piece this is so beautiful, suddenly the teacup spoke, "Thank you but you know what I haven't 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 made 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 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, I cried." He only shook his head and said, "Not yet." Then suddenly he puts 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 so I begged, pleaded, screamed, 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 so beautiful!" Quietly he spoke: "I want you to remember. 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 had any colour 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."

Reflection by Dr Anjana?

Reflect in life and recall the result of every challenge / hardship you over came and the mirror image you saw post that. The Almighty knows what HE's doing for each of us. The irony of life is that we know our love for God is strong, yet we can't seem to understand what He is trying to work out in our life Remember HE is the potter, and we are HIS clay. Let’s go ahead in life & when life seems hard, and you are being pounded and patted and pushed almost beyond endurance; when you feel like you are in a fiery furnace of trials; it’s your best flawless version in the making just go ahead and brew a cup of your favourite tea in your prettiest tea cup, sit down and have a little talk with the Almighty Potter to give you strength & courage to endure all the pain and to be always next to you Guard & Guide you.