Clay Pots

"I don't understand why Miss Wong picked Melanie to sing the solo at church instead of me," said Freya as she flattened a stick of red modeling clay onto the table. "I'm the best singer in the choir, and I have a much better stage presence than Melanie." She tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Miss Wong says I have a natural talent for music.""And a natural talent for bragging!" muttered Brody. Freya made a face at her brother as she started shaping the clay into a slender vase. "Don't be jealous just because I'm smarter than you." Brody sighed impatiently and left the room. Freya stood back to admire her handiwork. "I wish I could fire this vase in a kiln so it would hold water, but it will look pretty just sitting on a shelf." She smiled at her mom. "Mrs. White says I'm quite the artist."Mom glanced at Freya's work. "Well, that blue bowl you made yesterday looks fantastic! And this red clay vase is turning out so well too. Both of those pottery pieces must be very smart and talented to be so nicely made.""What do you mean?" asked Freya, frowning. "Things aren't smart or talented. I am--I made them. They were just sticks of clay. I'm the one responsible for the way they turned out.""That's true," said Mom. "That's like people, isn't it? For example, you may be smart and artistic and a good singer, but who is responsible for that? Who made you that way?"Freya looked down at the table. "God did," she mumbled at last."So who should receive the credit and praise?" asked Mom."God," Freya admitted.Mom nodded. "God is the one who gave you your talents and abilities--and He gives them to everyone else too. They're not all the same, but they're all equally important, because they're meant to be used to bring glory to Jesus and share His love with others. We can trust Him to help us do that." Mom pointed to Freya's vase. "Just like you're carefully shaping that lump of clay into a beautiful vase, God is shaping us to be more like Jesus. So don't brag about the things you're able to do. Instead, remember they're gifts from Him and use them to serve others."-Tanya Ferdinandusz