It was once a beautiful unblemished round clay pot. It came from the New Mexico mountains, so loved by my family. It had sat in the same place for many years. In good weather and bad. The years of being outside had caused it to sink down into the soil and provided a beautiful “tipping” pot for the beautiful perennial flowers that grew from it each spring and summer.
There were chips along the top edge and a crack that made its way from the top edge down until it was beneath ground level. I suppose it stayed in that exact spot because to move it, would have left it unusable as it would surely have fallen completely apart.
The beauty it was in the early days, had been replaced by a weathered fragile pot. All could agree that the beauty was not on the outside. No! What made it beautiful was what flowed up, out and over the edge. Outstanding colors and beauty fit for the artist’s brush. Though there were newer pots sitting around they did not compare to the history of this vessel and the years of beauty that had sprung from within.
Thought For Today:
It is not the fragile, worn vessel, that appears to have seen its best days long ago, that draws the eye. It is the treasure that swells up from inside and spills out all over everywhere. Through sparkling eyes, beautiful smiles and words of wisdom, come truths. Truths tested through time. It is that, which first draws the eye and then the thought comes. What a beautifully placed vessel…weathered a bit but with exquisite beauty coming from within.
A believer who stands the test of time. God has been there for every crack and chip that storms have brought. The vessel is not the treasure, it is the growth, the witness, the testimony, the faithfulness in living an obedient life, where the beauty resides. It is inside a life filled with the love of Christ. A life that is an overcomer. A life that is quick to tell us that all the glory belongs to the God of the universe. That is what makes the vessels who pass our way more beautiful with time.
Watch for them. They are in our families, our neighborhoods, our churches. They have lives of wisdom to share with us. Take time to talk to them. Learn their God-given strategy for weathering the storms of life. Priceless!
Scripture For Today:
2 Corinthians 4:7
7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. (NLT)
Prayer For Today:
Hello Father! We become the vessels Your word speaks of. We pray for grace as our exteriors start to show signs of weathering. Make us aware that You do Your best work in the fragile vessel. Lead us to them for encouragement, wisdom and knowledge, We long to hear their stories. Then, with Your grace, let us take our place among them. With You, all things are possible. Forgive us our sins. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
©2015 Kathy Ledbetter. All rights reserved.