Play-Doh.
Who knew it could teach so much?
Sophia has been big into playing with it. Almost every day, some large amount of time is spent with the familiar colored dough & molds. We make “foods” of dough & plate them. We “bake” cookies. We make “decorations”. There is no limit to what her imagination will form with the dough in her hands. It is all up to her.
After repeated use, we discovered last week, the dough was becoming dry. Difficult to mold. Crumbling as she tried to mold it. It basically was becoming useless. So a trip to Wal-Mart was necessary. With fresh dough, she was back in business. She was happy & content as she was able to bring about her intents with the dough in her hands. She happily exclaimed, “Mimi, look it is soft. It works.”
And that is when it hit me…..
Aren’t I the Play-Doh?
Isn’t He the Potter?
“Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8 NIV).
There it was in black & white for me to read. It was just as I had thought. I am the Play-Doh in His hands. He is the Potter. The design is in His head, not mine. He molds my life to fit His design. My task is to allow myself to be molded.
What happens in those times that I resist Him?
“How foolish can you be? He is the Potter, and He is certainly greater than you, the clay! Should the created thing say of the one who made it, “He didn’t make me?” Does a jar ever say, “The potter who made me is stupid?” (Isaiah 29:16 NLT).
When I resist, I am a fool. I become like the Play-Doh – dry, crumbly & useless. As the Potter attempts repeatedly to shape me & I continue to resist Him, I become hardened & unteachable. But as I remain compliant in His hands, He shapes me into what I was made to be & all for His glory.
This morning I am reminded of a worship song, The Potter’s Hand. Below is a clip of a potter & his wheel. I hope you will watch it. May it impact you deeply. Perhaps you are on the wheel, unsure of what you are becoming. Still feeling like that lump of clay. But notice how the potter not only gently shapes the clay but controls the speed of the wheel – all with His hands. He is right there, beside his clay, until his project is completed. It is only upon completion that he removes the clay from the wheel. And that is done with gentleness & love, his hands cupping the completed project.
Who knew Play-Doh would teach so much this morning?
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDAITgJXO1I&w=420&h=315]
