 
Once a Tarnished Vessel
By Susan Pedroza 8/99
This year my husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary.
When it was time for the toast, we proudly held up our shiny,
decorated, silver goblets and I silently praised God
for everything He had done to bring us joy and make this day
a special occasion to live in our hearts forever.
During the past few years I have on occasion looked
into my hope chest to put in items that I wanted to save.
On the bottom in a box was the silver toasting goblets
we used at our wedding 25 years ago. Over the years
they became tarnished and almost black looking.
They were hidden in the dark and lost their brightness.
I remember thinking it would take so much time and work
to make them look nice and so I would just cover them up
and leave them in the dark. For so many years just hidden from all.
They weren't being used and were almost forgotten.
That was until a few months ago when my husband and I
decided we wanted to use them for our 25th Anniversary celebration.
As I took one out and saw how bad it looked,
it made me realize that I once felt like
that tarnished, unused silver goblet.
At one time I felt so shiny and bright, wanting to serve and love God.
But I made a big mistake, by not putting God in my life as number one.
So many other things came first, so like the Silver Goblet,
I lost my luster, and my usefulness.
I was in darkness, away from the light. Once in awhile
I would get a little light, a glint of hope,
only to be hidden again by myself from myself, others, and the Light.
One day the Master called and wanted to take me out of the dark.
I allowed Him to clean up the outside so that
I would look good to others that would see me.
I wanted them to like me and even put me on their shelf.
But I didn't really want the Master to clean up the inside of my vessel.
I was afraid for Him and anyone else to see all
the things I had accumulated over my lifetime that were "yucky!"
The Master was gentle and took His time on me.
Yes the process was painful and He used
several different people to help Him do the work.
The brightness was coming back and the dullness began to fade.
Now I felt like crystal, shiny and not afraid to be looked at
now that the Master was making me so shine for Him.
But I was still fragile as crystal. So the process
continued and I wasn't as afraid to let others look at me.
I even allowed them to look at the inside and was relieved
to know that they still liked me, imperfections and all.
The biggest step to the whole transformation process
was yielding to the Master so that He could do
His work on me. He isn't finished with me yet.
Aren't we so lucky that our Father can take anything
tarnished and old and make it sparkle.
He fills us with love and then we can be used by Him to help others.
Is the Master finished with me? No, He will always work on me.
I just have to be wiiling and obedient
so
I can pour out to other's, what He has pouerd into me!
Zechaariah 13:9
"Then I will purify them and put them to the test,
just as gold and silver are purified and tested.
They will pray in My name, and I will answer them.
I will say, "You are my people,"
and they will reply, "You, Lord, are our God!"
Thanks Al! Hugs to you!
Contents & Graphics Copyright Susan's Garden of Friendship 2001
and the graphic artist listed. Our work is not Public Domain,
and should NOT be taken from this site. Thank you.
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