Crack Pot...

Thank God for 'Cracked Pots'!  I read a story the other day that summed up my whole life.  It was a story about a 'cracked pot'.  The Bible tells us that God is the Potter and we are the clay.  He puts us on His wheel and begins the molding process.  Sometimes the pot is made easily and off the wheel it goes to be a Vessel used for different purposes. Other times, in the process of being on the wheel, the clay may clump or become uneven and then the Potter must manipulate it a bit to create the desired outcome.  For some vessels, the process takes longer than others, but eventually the vessel comes off of the wheel and is used for a purpose by it's creator.  


I've always loved this story of how the Potter creates the vessel, because it is a symbolic story of how God molded us, and it really helped me appreciate myself more because of the process of the molding and shaping.  However, I wanted to think past the creation process and understand what happens to the vessel after it's created.  What happens if the pot drops, and is broken?  What happens if there is a crack in the vessel that is only discovered later down the road?  What if it's used so many times that it begins to show wear & tear?  (Maybe I think too much...lol).  As I began to think all of these questions through, the Lord showed me how 'cracked pots' are more valuable to Him.  You see, with a 'cracked pot', you can see what's inside.  From within, the light shines.  If the pot was a 'perfect vessel', you would not be able to see the light.  In a 'cracked pot', if you poured some type of liquid inside, what you poured in would begin to leak out.  This just excited me even more!  I asked the Lord, 'you mean to tell me, that because I'm broken, it  helps more than if I was perfect?'  Absolutely!  God uses 'cracked pots'!  How insane is that!?  I'm a cracked pot!  Hahaha!  The perfect vessel hides what's inside.  You can't see anything!  Oh, but the 'cracked pot' illuminates from the inside out!  That is how important what you put in your spirit, mind & body!  


About 7 years ago around this time of year, I was in the beginning of the darkest time of my life.  I had taken my kids down south to get away from all of the media influx and just basically take a breath.  I brought along my sister in law and her kids.  The morning after we arrived at our destination, we got up and she was helping me make the bed when she looked at me and said, 'what's wrong with your face?'  I paused and said, well it could be a number of things.  Of course, I thought she was just trying to make me laugh, but she continued with concern and said, 'No, Angie, the right side of your face is frozen.'  I panicked and ran to the mirror to see what was going on and sure enough, I couldn't blink my eye or smile or move the whole right side of my face.  Well, I contacted a local Dr. that met me and told me, of all things, I had a condition known as 'Bells Palsy'.  Paralyzation of the facial muscles.  This could last a few days or go on for years.  There was no cure only medications and exercises to help you through the process.  As I sat there, in total shock, I asked how this could happen.  The Dr. told me it was due to 'stress'...my reaction, well ...let's just say, it was one of many words that I deem inappropriate for reading...On top of all the other  stuff I was dealing with, NOW THIS!  I asked God...'are you trying to torture me to death?   Why not just take me out now so I'm not even more Humiliated?'  Seriously, You have no idea the mountain of, excuse me for saying this, but, 'CRAP', that was being piled on me on a daily basis.  Well, after my little pity party, I told everyone, I needed to run to the store, so I left, and as I was driving down the road, I came to a traffic light and viewed myself in the mirror and saw this pitiful face...at that moment, I knew I had 2 options...POUT or PRAISE...long story short, I chose PRAISE.  I'm gonna praise my way out of this.  I went back to my family and when I walked in the room, they were walking on egg shells wondering how to react to what I was going through.  I looked at them, and told them to watch me drink this glass of water.  As I did, the water ran down my face and all over my shirt.  Taylor started to laugh then caught himself and I said, laugh, it's OK, because that's what Momma's gonna do....laugh!  We are gonna laugh our way through this one.  I'm tired of crying about my circumstances!  So we did, for 5 months...we laughed!  I literally laughed my way through 'Bells Palsy' and every time I had a chance to take pics of myself in that condition I did.  I wanted to remind myself of where I was when God turned my situation around with laughter.


I know this was a bit of a long story, but I had to tell it, somebody needs to hear that just because you are a 'cracked pot', you can still let light, love & laughter shine through you.  My 'Bells Palsy' moment was the beginning of my becoming a 'Cracked Pot' and I thank God today for 'CRACKED POTS'!