The Teacup Story

Pansy teacup....gold rim.

English China Teacup Collection.

The Teacup Story

There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup. They said, "May we see that? We've never seen one quite so beautiful." As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke. "You don't understand," it said. "I haven't always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay. My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, 'let me alone,' but he only smiled, 'not yet.'

"Then I was placed on a spinning wheel, " the teacup said, "and suddenly I was spun around and around. 'Stop it! I'm getting dizzy!" I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, 'Not yet.' Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as he shook his head, 'Not yet.'

Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. 'There, that's better' I said. And he brushed me and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I though I would gag. 'Stop it, stop it!" I cried. He only nodded, 'Not yet.' Then suddenly he put me back in the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, 'Not yet.'

Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One 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.' 'I want you to remember, then, 'he said, 'I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had 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 knew it hurt and 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 haven't done that you never would hardened; you would not have any color in your life. And if I hadn't put you back in the second oven, you wouldn't survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you.'" Author Unknown

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."

"A clay pot sitting in the sun will always be a clay pot. It has to go through the white heat of the furnace to become porcelain." Mildred Witte Stouven

Debbie Dawson wrote a Heart story and when she came to bring me her teacup collection and teapots this is what she emailed back to me that I wanted to share.

Tammy, thank you for buying my teacup collection and tea pots. I appreciate your kindness.

When I got back to my office I had to check out your blog. The date you entered my mother's story was July 25th, which was her birthday. Amazing. Mother wanted her life to touch others for Christ. I thank you that she continues to be a witness through your blog. God Bless! Debbie