I am a vessel.  Sometimes I pour out and sometimes I hold in.  Mostly I am a container that allows love to flow through me to others in unique and amazing ways.  I was fashioned by the hands of the Master Potter.  He cradles me and holds me in such a way that I am secure and will never be dropped.  I am here just because He thought I am a good idea - and He need only to think in order for me to exist.  In the words of Shawn, He gave me an absolute value!  I am priceless to Him.

There are moments when I seem to try to lessen my own value.  I try to turn myself into plastic, and find that I'm not strong enough to hold the burdens of life.  I try to turn myself into iron, but find that rust and corrosion set in.  I try to turn myself into paper, and get burned every time. 

Many times I have placed myself upon shelves, tables, in corner curios, shadow boxes and bay windows.  Each time I choose the location of my placement, I have fallen and shattered into hundreds of pieces. I placed myself beside the hammer, for it was shiny and shaped much differently than me.  But the hammer took me to the cold basement floor and pounded me into dust.  I placed myself beside the bouncing ball, for it was well rounded and colorful.  But the bouncing ball took me to the outer courts and rolled all over me until I could no longer stand.  I placed myself on the floor for it was polished and slick.  But the floor wanted to keep me down on the floor's level and wanted to place dusty throw rugs all over me. 

There is not enough time to talk about every place I've tried to be; by the python that slithered onto the table and wrapped around me until I was crushed.  Near the waterhose that tried to fill me but the forceful spray knocked me over and removed me from my station.  Beside the wind who blew into my life, took my breath away, then left me gasping on the ledge.

So who am I now?  I am a vessel.  There will be more places, yet I will fear them not.  I will not run away from them.  I care not when they show their faces, for whenever the come, in whatever form, they will join those before them until they have flowed into the river that flows into the mighty ocean.  They may come nigh, but they will not remain.  And once they are gone, I will find shelter in my Creator who constantly molds me into what He has designed me to be.  I ask Him to take all the time He needs and all the time that it takes to complete His process in me.  Then I ask Him to place me where I can best reflect His perfect light and love.  For I am a vessel.