Scriptures of Encouragement ~ A Flower Bloomed

by Nan Jones  @NanJonesAuthor

(A Jewish Tale)

"Once upon a time there lived a wonderful, giving person who walked to the river everyday carrying a long pole stretched across his broad shoulders. The pole was laden with a bucket hanging from each end. Day after day he knelt by the river's edge filling the buckets with water for the people of his community. Day by day he walked the same path delivering water to every home.

"After many years of making this daily trek, one of the buckets slipped from the pole, hit the hard ground and cracked. Not to worry. The wonderful person continued using the bucket, even though it leaked along the daily pilgrimage.

"Eventually the bucket became self-conscious, 'I used to hold two gallons of water. Now I leak. I used to be proud to work for my Master. Now, I look at my neighbor bucket who shares the pole and helps gather water. He is still proud and useful. I feel jealous. I feel resentful. I don't like the way I feel, but this is too much for me.'

"The bucket called to its Master, 'Please destroy me. I don't want to be here anymore. I don't like that I can no longer reach the full potential I was created for. My neighbor bucket is still able to carry two gallons of water. I barely have one gallon left when I reach the homes.'

"The Master said, 'Don't you know how good the world has become because of your brokenness? Please, come with me. Let me show you how beautiful the world is because of you. Do you see the flowers there? They are all on the right side of the road because that's the side of the pole I hung you from. Every place you dripped water through your brokenness, I planted a seed. Because you were broken, the dry, barren ground was watered and a flower bloomed.'"

Precious child of God, your tears are not for naught when you walk with the Master. Faith and hope grow through your brokenness bringing glory to God, beauty to the world. How? Because, just like the Master continued to carry the broken bucket, our Master continues to carry us. He finds purpose for our struggles. The world sees that we are not abandoned or cast aside because we have fallen, because we have pain. The world sees that He gives us beauty for ashes, a garland of praise for the spirit of heaviness. He unveils His wondrous mysteries to those who give Him their tears.

Because I have been broken - and perhaps you - the dry, barren ground has been watered. Flowers of hope bloom. Flowers of understanding and insight, like a beautiful bouquet, reflect the mysteries of His love.

"Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. 
       He who continually goes forth weeping,
               bearing seed for sowing, 
                   shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, 
                           bringing his sheaves with him." 
                                   ~ Psalm 126:5-6

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Tweetables to Encourage Others

Ever wonder how beauty comes from ashes? @NanJonesAuthor loves this story. (Click to Tweet)

Precious child of God, your tears are not for naught when you walk with the Master. (Click to Tweet)