January 10, 2006
I want to share with you a word of encouragement that came out of the Bible reading time I had with my daughter today. First of all we were reading in I Peter 4 of how God has given us all gifts and we are to use them to give God glory. While talking this over my daughter asked me, “Would you rather be a teapot or a soup bowl?” (This child tends to see things in word pictures, so stick with us) I started thinking and without answering her I asked what she thought of when she thinks of a teapot and she said, “I’m filled up with God’s word and pouring it out to lots of people.” Then I asked, “Does that mean a soup bowl is filled up but only feeds one person?” That was right, I was following her analogy. So we continued to talk and this is what we would like to share with you:
Most of us desire to be beautiful teapot, pouring out to many the hot refreshment of God’s truths. We may not be brought out every day but when we get the opportunity we like to make others warmed with God’s encouraging words.
Few of us see the beauty of a soup bowl that is chipped and worn from its everyday use. Yet it is filled with nutrients and sustenance that carry the person through to the next meal. It is where the person will turn to the next time they are feeling weak or hungry for more. The tea is enjoyable but it doesn’t carry with it the satisfaction of a hearty bowl of soup.
Mom’s we are all soup bowls. We need to fill ourselves up continually so we are prepared to feed our little children’s hearts with God’s love, truth and guidance. Every day we are sought upon by these little ones to strengthen their hearts. Filling one little starving heart at a time is how we fulfill our soup bowl calling. Take full advantage the next time you are called upon to be a teapot, but don’t minimize the opportunity to be a soup bowl several times every day.