The Suit

It was 1977, the year of the cream colored, three piece polyester suit.  My husband was in Bible College and in the 70's people were sewing their own clothes or shall I say...attempting to sew their own clothes.   

You probably know by now--this is not going to end well!

I had a little sewing talent and I was confident I was up for the challenge.  I bought the pattern, the beautiful fabric and I was all in for $25.

In my mind I could see the finished product.  It would be brilliant...worthy of a runway reveal.  The potential was limitless.  I imagined the awe of family and friends over what was sure to be a stunning suit.  (The attached picture is not the actual suit.)  When the final stitches were complete, I can honestly say, "The Suit was memorable, but not in a good way."

Still, I pulled out all the stops to justify my spending and pleaded with my husband to wear the work of art I created.  After much pleading and many tears (mine not his), he relented and wore the suit...to church.  The church we attended was in the thousands. 

On the walk from the parking lot into the building, the sun shone down on him like a spotlight displaying my poor workmanship and I began to giggle as his huge pant legs flapped in the wind.  I couldn't stop laughing.  He knew it was The Suit.

I'm surprised now that he even went into the church.  He could have left but he didn't.  He stayed through the whole service.  And I pinched myself to stop laughing when he took off the suit coat jacket with the uneven pockets and cockeyed lapel.  Bless him for being such a kind husband.

The story of The Suit has given us many moments of laughter as we remember that day.  In reality though, I'm in pretty good company.  In Jeremiah 19 there is a story about someone else who dealt with flawed workmanship.  It's a story of a potter and some clay. 

“The vessel the potter was making of clay was marred, in the potter's hand
and the potter reworked it into another vessel, 
as seemed good to the potter."

In this verse it's easy to identify with that lump of clay as we are all works in progress.  The vessel wasn't intended to be marred, but it was.  And it was marred while still in the potter's hands.  Then the potter continues to mold the clay until He was pleased with it.

This verse tells so much about the Lord's enduring love and desire to work with us...lumps of clay, imperfect and flawed as we are.  If we stay on the potter's wheel and allow the potter to continue to shape us...He won't give up.

This week you may feel like that three-piece cream colored catastrophe I made or maybe you identity more with the lump of flawed clay waiting to be formed into a vessel of honor.

I understand marred/flawed workmanship, and so does God.  But unlike me, God doesn't send you out flawed and damaged then laugh at you.  He holds you until the work is complete.  

My prayer for you is don't give up...stay on the potter's wheel.  He won't give up on you.  He will hold you in his hands until He is pleased with what he sees.

Aren't you glad God's the Potter?  I know my husband is!



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