1. The Tea Cup Submitted by Cathy Pinto

2. There was a couple who used to My master took me and rolledgo England just to shop in theme and patted me over andbeautiful stores. over and I yelled out, Let meThis was their 25th wedding alone, but he only smiledanniversary. They both likedand said, Not yet!!antiques and pottery and Then I was placed on a spinningespecially tea-cups.wheel and suddenly I wasThey said, May we see that tea spun around and around andcup? Weve never seen one around.quite so beautiful. Stop it !! Im getting dizzy! IAs the lady handed it toscreamed.them, suddenly the tea-cup But the master only nodded andspoke, You dont said, Not yet.understand. It said, I havenot always been a tea-cup.There was a time when I wasred clay. 3. Then he put me in the oven. IThen suddenly he put me backnever felt such heat. I yelledinto the oven, not like the firstand knocked at the door. Ione. This was twice as hot andcould see him through the I knew I would suffocate.opening and I could read his I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. Ilips as he shook his head and cried. I would never make it. Isaid, Not yet.was ready to give up.Finally, the door opened, heBut the door opened and he tookput me on the shelf, and Ime out and placed me on thebegan to cool.shelf.Then he brushed and painted me An hour later he handed me aall over. The fumes weremirror and said Look athorrible. I thought I would yourself. And I did. I said,gag. Stop it, Stop it!! I Thats not me; that couldntcried.be me. Its beautiful. ImHe only nodded, Not yet!. beautiful. 4. I want you to remember, then, done that, you never would have he said, I know it hurts to behardened. rolled and patted, but if I just You would not have had any had left you alone, youdcolor in your life, and if I have dried up. hadnt put you back in theI know it made you dizzy to spinsecond oven, you wouldnt around on the wheel, but if Isurvive for long because the had stopped, you would havehardness would not have held. crumbled.Now you are a finished product.I know it hurts and it was hotYou are what I had in mind and disagreeable in the oven,when I first began with you. but if I hadnt put you there, God knows what Hes doing with you would have cracked.us . He may be viewed as aI know the fumes were bad potter working in clay or as a when I brushed and painted vinedresser working in the you all over, but if I hadntvineyard of the world. 5. However you picture Him, Hewill mould us, prune us andshape us into His perfect planand purpose for our lives.