Monday, October 26, 2009

I'm A Little Tea Cup.... You all know the song…


Love this story or not, you will not be able to have tea in
a tea cup again without thinking of this.

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." image 

As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke.
"You don't understand. I have not always been a
teacup. 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.
image 
But the master only nodded and said, quietly; 'Not
yet.'
image   
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!"
image 
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,image   
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.
image 
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!!!”
image Oct 26 09 
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.
How different we all are like a tea cup!

imageimage

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.

 image

16 comments:

Wanda..... said...

I loved this Linda and you are right I will never have a cup of tea without thinking of you and your lovely post! In fact I want to go buy a special tea cup tomorrow to initiate those thoughts and feelings. I love little traditions.

A copy of your story and a beautiful tea cup would make perfect gifts for friends.

My Son in law is a potter and I have watched him make beautiful things from clay. I have examples of his work all over the house...but no dainty tea cups!

Luv and Smiles,
Wanda

Mandy said...

Oh Auntie what a beautiful story. I so needed that today. Thank you so much. I love you!

Jackie said...

Beautifully said, Linda.
I love the analogy...the pictures...and just love the wonderful spirit that you have.
Blessings to you, my friend.
Love,
Jackie

Jientje said...

What a wonderful story. I too will think about you every ime I see a lovely tea cup, or every time I use one of mine. Big hug xxx

I don't know when I'll be able to visit you again. I'm leaving for the States the day after tomorrow. No, that's not right. It's four minutes to midnight so that would be TOMORROW!!! I'm not going to have much computer time, but I'll try and make a little update on my blog about what I'm up to!
In the mean time, take care. xoxoxox

imac said...

Brill story, and what photos.

Thanks for your visit and comments.

Diana said...

Hi Linda,
You know that your timing with this post couldn't have been better! It not only brought a smile to my face but gave me a lift as well!
We've all been through some trying times lately. But it's all good, we're gonna be fine! Love You!
Love Di

Blessings each day said...

Beautiful post, Lindalu and I love the perfect pictures you put with it, what a great job you always do!!! The pictures just make it so much more real and then the last one is just so awesome in its' own right, as the best place for us is "In His Hands"!!

blessings and hugs,

marcy

Eileen said...

Beautiful post!
Beautiful story!
Beautiful pictures!

I used to drink nothing but tea, but now it's nothing but coffee!

I will never look at pretty little tea cup without thinking of you my friend!
I love how you think, and I love how you live your life in His Hands! Such inspiration!

Love to you!,
Eileen

Barb said...

Lovely post, Linda. I'm having tea just now in my favorite hand-cast mug that I bought many years ago when I stopped at a potter's studio in WY. Perhaps the heavy and durable mug serves my personality better than anything too dainty! I'll think of you and your story when I drink my evening cup of Chamomile - just know I'll be drinking it from my "Moose Mug"!

Heather said...

Perfect...perfect.

You also reminded me that I boiled myself some hot water and completely forgot about making me a cup of tea :)

Hope you're feeling well, Linda.

Terrie said...

Nice story and oh, you're so clever to put your own picture in that reflection! Love it!

Scriptor Senex said...

What a great story, thank you, Linda.

Jeannette StG said...

Glad I saw you at Scriptor's post. Oh, how true, how true. I love tea, I love teacups, I love God, but I don't love the pounding, the grilling, the glazing!!!

Cynthia L. H. said...

Beautiful.
;^)
Thank you.
:^)

Marian Dean said...

This is lovely Linda. Thank you.

Love Granny

The Brownings said...

I knew that looking at your blog was just what I needed. It's 12:10 am and I just cannot sleep and this beautiful story is just perfect.
Love you