Pottery

This year Mason, Kaiah and a few of their friends had the opportunity to take a pottery class from a friend of mine. Riette and her partner Anneke are growing their wonderful business (Kleilat Pottery) with beautiful handmade (handbuilt) pottery. When I asked if they would do a class, they agreed to share their talents with our kids (and me) and try something new. We are so glad they did! 

The kids and I learned so much. It was not only fun, but very thought provoking. All of the verses in Bible on God being the potter and we being the clay were so striking, I found myself thinking about them often. 

Jeremiah 18:4

 ... I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

 

 

 

Psalm 103: 8-14

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. 

God knows how he wants to form us. He has the design in his head. He gives talents and skills to individuals, and He allows birth defects and diseases. He gives us unique markings specific to each of us "as it seems best to Him."

 

But sometimes we can't see the purpose in His design... 

And we question Him. 

And we think we know better.

Romans 9:20-21 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?'" Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?  

We can take comfort that though we make mistakes (and we made plenty) God never does. And when he makes us I believe he rejoices much like our kids did when they saw their completed works! 

Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful I know that full well.

Isaiah 64:8 Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

What a fun and tangible way to experience, in part, how God sees us!