The Teacup Story

When I owned Teacups of Kindness (a teahouse), this wonderful Teacup story was posted on my website and we gave it to guests that came for tea. I have always loved this parable and wanted to share it again. You can get a free printable version of this story below. 

The author is unknown and the bible verse that correlates with this story is Jeremiah 18:6b  “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.” If you want other ideas for tea parties, visit my teatime page.

If you are also looking for more printable scripture cards read this article.

The Teacup Story

 

Inspirational and Encouraging Teacup Story

There was a couple that used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery, especially teacups. This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. One day in a beautiful shop they saw an exquisite teacup. They asked the clerk, “May we see that? we’ve never seen one quite so lovely.”

As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke. “you don’t understand,” it said. “I haven’t always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red, and I was clay. My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over, and I yelled out, ‘let me alone,’ but, he only smiled and said, ‘Not yet.’ Then I was placed on a spinning wheel and suddenly spun around, and around, and around. Stop it! I’m getting dizzy!’ I screamed.

The Master Is At Work In You

“But the master only nodded and said, ‘Not yet’. then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening, and I could read his lips, as he shook his head, “Not yet.”

“Finally the door opened, he put me on a shelf, and I began to cool. ‘There that’s better’, I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. ‘Stop it, stop it!’ I cried. He only nodded, ‘Not yet.’ Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot, and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded.

I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, ‘Not yet.’

“Then I knew there wasn’t any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened, and he took me out and placed me on a shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and said, ‘Look at yourself.’ And I did. I said, ‘That’s not me, that couldn’t be me. It’s beautiful. I’m beautiful.’

“I want you to remember, then’ he said, ‘I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you’d have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn’t put you there, you would have cracked.

“I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn’t done that, you never would have hardened; you would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you.'”

MORAL: God knows what He is doing for all of us. He is the Potter, and we are His clay. He will mold us and make us, so that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing, and perfect will.

I hope you enjoyed this Teacup Story as much as I do. If you like it you can PRINT it below and please share it on twitter, facebook or pin it. 

The next time you have a tea party, you could read this story and it would be a great ending to your event.

Jeremiah 18:1-6 Verse

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying, “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I shall announce My words to you.” Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.”Jeremiah 18:1-6 (NASB)

 

If you enjoyed The Teacup Story, you may like these inspirational items.

 

Joy Teapot for 1Vintage Floral Paper Tea Cups with Handles and Saucers for a Tea PartyRoyal Albert New Country Roses Formal Vintage Boxed Teacup and SaucerPaper Luncheon Napkins 40pcs Tea Party, Tea Cup with Rose