This well worn winsome cup sits on my keyboard laden with lace in my room. It is a simple, delicate china cup which holds ivory pearls (less real than to be desired) and a deep purple silk flower (also less real than to be desired.) By now you might have noticed that against the cup on the saucer sits a small piece of wood which reads "Love."
I admit, it is an odd piece of decoration. Pretty, yes, but odd.
Now since I tend to make everything in my life have meaning in some way or another, what could this piece of decoration possibly entail?
This decoration represents a sort of surrender. Quite a monumental one, actually (at least for my little life). The cup clinks against my keyboard as I frustratingly furrow my brows while erasing timid pencil marks. The cup looks at me as I look out my window longing for a new world, a new life. The cup listens to me as I pour out my sacrificial, broken praise to the only One who understands my heart. I see the cup, and the little piece of wood that says "Love," and I remember to Whom my heart belongs.
Let me explain.
The Cup:
Worthiness.
I received the cup and saucer when I was twelve years old at a girl's purity study. We had a tea party on a beautiful spring evening and I listened intently as our leader spoke into our little girl hearts. As I sipped tea out of my new lovely little cup, I watched as my teacher pulled out a paper cup and a ceramic mug. She lifted the paper cup first and said,
"Some girls think of themselves as paper cups. They know they exist, yet they are worn out. They feel they are only made to be used once and then thrown away. Forever forgotten. Without any value of any kind."
Then she lifted the mug,
"Other girls know they are useful. They understand they are not to be thrown away, yet they see themselves as generic... basic... living an "okay" life. They believe they are still easily forgotten among the rest. Most of the time they hide, only to be shown every once in a while."
Then she softly smiled and lifted a china cup of her own,
"Then there is the china cup. Beautiful. Intricately designed by an artist. Hand crafted and made with detail, precision, care, and love."
I watched as she held the cup. The sunset light drifted through the windows causing the golden rims to glimmer all the more.
"You are the china cup. You have great value. You are worthy because the Artist has made you worthy. You are to be displayed, protected, admired, and adored. No matter where you have been or what you have done, this will never change. Do not allow anyone tell you otherwise, do not believe the lie that you are the paper cup or the ceramic mug."
My twelve year old heart took hold of these words tightly: "I am the china cup."
Our girl's bible study leader told us to take our china cups home so that we would always look at them and never forget that night.
I know I never did.
I sat the cup in a place where it could be seen in my room as a young girl. For a little while, I admired it and allowed the Lord to speak this truth in my heart that I was worthy. I was beautiful and valuable in His eyes.
The Pearls:
Surrender.
During that same time in my life I learned about the story of the little girl who was asked by her Daddy to give up her beloved fake pearls. She did not understand, but willingly gave the pearls to him. She trusted that he knew best. He then gave her real pearls for her to treasure.
(You can find the full story here).
I placed fake pearls of my own into my little cup to remind me that my dreams and desires are not always what I think they are. That in times of uncertainty, failure, or grief... He has something better for me that I cannot yet see.
The Flower:
Growth.
Honestly, this fake little flower is meant for the purpose of catching my eye. I knew the cup itself was not enough for me to remember these truths as I found it had collected dust over the years. The flower is also a reminder that in spite of my becoming a woman and changing, the truth of the cup remains the same.
The Wood:
Treasure.
Also in my younger life I decided to buy the little piece of wood. Was I attracted to it because of the color? The size? The word engraved?
Well, perhaps some of these things played a part for the reason why I bought it. Although the truth is there is another reason...
...and the reason is not visible in the picture that you see above.
The entire reason for this decoration is hidden.
To be continued.
