He's Still Working on Me...

Did you ever sing this song when you were little?

He's still working on me, to make me what I ought to be.
It took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars,
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.
How loving and patient He must be-e.
He's still working on me.

                                 
I found myself singing that song in my head yesterday as I was listening to our amazing field trip presenter, Mr. Collier, speak to some of our art co-op students.  He was explaining that even though he may spend hours shaping and molding the clay, his pottery isn't complete until it is placed in the kiln.  The fire.  For a really long time.  In fact, if that part of the process is not done, then the pottery will eventually fall apart.  Useless.

It wasn't new information to me, but it served as a great reminder that things aren't always supposed to be easy.  In fact, many of the best things only become good, and right, and useful, when they are put through the fire.  Tried.  Tested.  Things like parenting, and teaching, and training our children.  Those things don't end.  We aren't ever 'done', but we are refined.  Made fine again, so to speak.

I thank God (literally) that He is so loving and patient.  He knows how much my family needs His example and influence.  He sure knows that there are way too many times that they aren't seeing that in me.

But, hey.  He's not done with me yet.  Right?



Photo source:  www.destrier.hubpages.com