Around my home these days......
There are lots of white pitchers...
and I do mean....
LOTS!
Yep....
I admit it loudly....
My name is Patty....,
and I am a "Pitcher addict"........
and I am a "Pitcher addict"........
seriously.......
You could say.....
I have a little "collector's craze" going on......
I have a little "collector's craze" going on......
I do not know what you like...
~~~
As for me.......
~~~
As for me.......
There is a special beauty around the really "used" ones......
Through the lens of my camera....
I become more aware of the details........
The beautiful Patina......
Small chips....
some even have cracks.......
some even have cracks.......
Others have a beautiful crackle that has formed from age and use.......
How is it that being "used" could make something more beautiful?
~~~~
~~~~
I cannot help but wonder........
~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~
What were they used for......
~~~~~~~~
Fresh milk for a family.....
Sweet tea........
Maybe flowers.........
Used with purpose....
time and time again........
time and time again........
Filled up and then emptied....
Being poured out....
Refreshing someones life...
With cold drink....
~~~~~
~~~~~
Maybe a weary traveler...
A special guest...
or
as service for an ordinary family supper......
Then to be put away
waiting to be filled...
To be used again.....
or perhaps used up.......
Ending as a display...
Sitting on a shelf.....
Believe it or not.....
My time looking at......
and taking pictures of these beauties
actually challenged me.....
~~~~~~~~
You should know me by now...
God has a way of turning everything into a life lesson for me.....
The question for me.........
~~~~~~~~
Am I willing to be used?
Am I willing to sacrifice myself for the work of another
believer.........
to pour out my life sacrificially for the ministry and faith
of others?
Or do I say,
“I am not willing to be poured out right now,
This is not a good time....
This is not a good time....
I don’t want God to tell me how to serve Him........
I want to choose the
place of my own sacrifice.
And to whom I serve.....
And to whom I serve.....
It is one thing to follow God’s way of service if it is convenient...
perhaps easy......
But........
to be so totally insignificant.....
To be used in such a way
that no one
remembers you..
or says...
"Thank you"....
gulp....
that sounds difficult......
No body wants to be the pitcher on the sink...
holding the cleaning utensils.....
or says...
"Thank you"....
gulp....
that sounds difficult......
No body wants to be the pitcher on the sink...
holding the cleaning utensils.....
Am I willing to sacrifice?
To be poured out time and time again.......
To be poured out time and time again.......
until I am used up and exhausted—
used in a place of insignificance.........
used in a place of insignificance.........
not seeking
to be ministered to,
but to minister?
Gulp....
again!
but to minister?
Gulp....
again!
I guess we all want to be the pitcher that holds the beautiful arrangement of flowers......
But we can't.......
Paul was a great Biblical example........
He lived a life of service....
Most of it in Jail.......
He said this from a prison in Rome....
But we can't.......
Paul was a great Biblical example........
He lived a life of service....
Most of it in Jail.......
He willingly gave his life for the sake of the gospel.......
He said this from a prison in Rome....
Philippians 2:17
But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering
on the sacrifice and service
coming from your faith,
I am glad and rejoice with all of
you.coming from your faith,
As the Lord fills you with His love and power this week.....
Look for others to pour into.....
No matter who they are.....
~~~~~~~
Where they may be.......
~~~~~~~~~~
No matter how different or difficult it may seem for you......
~~~~~~
or how insignificant.....
Remember the one who "pours" into us...
He is more than able to help us to pour into others.....
~~~
Beautiful Blessings to you !
Look for others to pour into.....
No matter who they are.....
~~~~~~~
Where they may be.......
~~~~~~~~~~
No matter how different or difficult it may seem for you......
~~~~~~
or how insignificant.....
Remember the one who "pours" into us...
He is more than able to help us to pour into others.....
~~~
Beautiful Blessings to you !
I was all in to looking at your pictures when as I was reading along, I started seeing more than the picture. Then you shared the lesson. Oh my! Touched my heart.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post, Patty! I will be pouring away.........your collection is beautiful....Blessings~~~Roxie
ReplyDeleteYou have a delightful collection and I enjoyed seeing your different vignettes. Don't you wish the pitchers could talk? I also enjoyed your message and Bible verse. God bless your evening.
ReplyDeleteI have an old china pie plate that belonged to my grandma. After her passing when I rec'd it, I found her name written on a piece of paper taped to the bottom of the plate where she had obviously shared a pie with a neighbor, who would know to return the plate to her. I imagine all these pitchers have a similar history!
What an absolutely beautiful posting --- a photo essay full of truth. This is our life. He is our life. This is the only way to fulfillment. Hallelujah!!!
ReplyDeleteLove your collection, and more importantly, the challenge you give us. Offering ourselves up for service to Him when it is not convenient or may be painful is not easy, but may we have the courage to be willing to do so. Blessings to you Patty, Deborah.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful pitchers - I have a small collection going but they will never come close to what you have - just lovely!
ReplyDeleteAnd the thoughts....beautiful!
Blessings
Karen
This was beautiful Patty. don't know how you come up with such wonderful inspiration, week after week. I love the arrangement in the next to last pitcher. Your pitchers are just spectacular. Again I say, you need to write abook, or put all of your blog post in book form. I will buy a copy!lol
ReplyDeleteI love how we often think a like... I love analogies like this.
ReplyDeleteRecently,I was gifted a white pitcher that reminds me of the one smack dab in the middle, top shelf, of the first picture. It's not exact... but very, very similar. (maybe I should send it to you, to add to your collection?) ;)
This one has a few, random black specks to it and it pings when I tap it like it's accate (sp,?) but painted over in white, because on the bottom is etched a name... merle. ??
Anyway. I like your thoughts here... and I often ponder what kind of vessel I am and how I can be most useful. Holding what? Even with the flaws...
Good Morning Patty, I LOVE this post and the meaning you gave to it using your gorgeous pitcher collection. Beautifully written and I so needed to read this today. You words really spoke to my heart and lifted my spirits.
ReplyDeleteI too collect shades of white pitchers and I look for them everywhere. Your displays are beautiful, just like your heart. Thank you for the great lesson today. You truly have been blessed with great understanding.
Love and Blessings
This post is so heartfelt and thought-provoking. The pitchers do seem to be an allegory for service in life and what we are willing to do.
ReplyDeleteAnother beautiful post Patty! I love pitchers too! I love a lot of things! It doesn't matter how the pitcher is being used, the important thing is that it is being used. Hence the reason why I thing we appreciate they chips and cracks and old patina that we see. Not everyone shares our appreciation for things that have been used. By the way, thank you for your comments on my blog. I just posted after not posting for awhile. I didn't realize there were comments for me to moderate! I must have changed something. Thanks for your encouragement. Diane
ReplyDeletePatty, such a wonderful post! I especially love your old churn...getting ready to churn butter at the county fair and some knucklehead will, again, get angry that I won't sell my heritage. sigh. Why are folks so ornery? As to the kitchen pitcher...I'd rather be useful than pretty.
ReplyDeleteI love pitchers as well. Your wild flowers look so pretty.
ReplyDeleteHi Patty, I've come from Kris' feature, but really I just came across the road. ;) I live in West Virginia, so I consider myself your neighbor. I am also your newest follower, and look forward to current posts coming through my feed. I've jumped around a bit, and can see we share some common ground in our love of home & gardens, as well as some collections. Your faith-filled posts are inspiring, and I'm happy to be acquainted with you!
ReplyDeleteRita C at Panoply