by the Potter's hands.

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show us that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

- 2 Corinthians 4:7-9
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-

Once unshapen, rough and hard
He warmed me in His hands,
He put me on His potter's wheel
and whispered me His plans.
As I spun He molded me,
and took my shapeless mass,
His hands were gently shaping me
with a love that's unsurpassed.
The lump of clay that I had been
was spun into a jar,
He said to me "You're beautiful
just the way you are."
I admired the Potter's handiwork
and proudly was displayed
until I saw the other jars
the Potter's hands had made.
Some jars He had made taller,
some had much more vibrant colors,
and as I looked I wondered why
I wasn't as pretty as the others.
I gathered dust in discontent
until the Potter came to me,
He said to me "My child,
what is wrong with what you see?
You know I made you special,
every curve and every line.
There is not a thing about you,
that makes you any less a jar of mine."
I pointed to the places that
I'd rather Him not seen,
the places I had cracked and where
the chips of paint had been.
He held me in His well-worn hands
and put His fingers where I'd faded,
He whispered "You are perfect
and thats just the way I made it.
Never question that you're beautiful,
because my child, you are.
I shaped you how I needed you,
and you're a very precious jar."
His love washed over all my clay
until I understood,
the Potter knew He made me,
and He knew He made me good.
He held me just a while longer
and put me back in the display,
I proudly remained on the shelf,
a treasure in jars of clay.