What did you notice first about the figurine?

The word HOPE?

The small clay figurine was a gift that held special meaning for me as a teacher of underprivileged children. The child’s raised arm grasps a balloon with the word HOPE.

When its tiny right hand broke off, I glued it back hoping no one would notice.

After a time the hand fell off again. I reattached it with a pinhead of goop which oozed from under the hand which now hung crooked. The repair was crude, but I was determined the figure would not be complete without its hand.

No one likes broken vessels. We want ourselves and others, relationships, and circumstances to be “fixed.” Sometimes we step into God’s place to “help” when His plan may be for one to go through the valley so He can draw near.

It is when we are broken that God does His greatest work. We read David’s words of hope in Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Tired of trying to fix the figurine, I left it as-is and set it on my desk as a reminder.

The child is looking upward at HOPE instead of his infirmity.

We are like figures of clay, formed by God’s hand. He does not cast aside but uses broken vessels to proclaim His message of hope. Hold the banner high for all to see and know that He is the God of hope.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13