Parable of the Pencil

I heard this story today at an assembly.  I don't quite remember, but I think that she amended some parts of the story to make it more inclusive. *sigh*

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. 

"There are 5 things you need to know," he told the pencil, "Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be."
"One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand."
"Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil."
"Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make."
"Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside."
"And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write."
The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.

Now replacing the place of the pencil with you.  Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be. 
One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.
Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but you'll need it to become a stronger person. 
Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make. 
Four: The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside.
And Five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.

Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish.
Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot make a change.

I really liked this story.  I actually like this one I found online even better because while the principal was reading it, I was actually thinking about how it parallels our Christian walks (I think she omitted the part about God in her explanation of point 1).  

But yes, when she was reading about point 1, I was thinking about how God holds me in the palm of His hand and how I can accomplish so much with Him in my life, by his power doing all the work!  Point 2 probably resonated more powerfully than some of the other points as I feel that I have gone through so much sharpening in the last 6 months, from family, work, and ministry.  But God has definitely made me a much stronger person for it.  It has also allowed me to rely on him evermore so!  And with God I can definitely correct any mistakes, or sins, that I have made.  It is through the daily renewal and washing only given by the blood of Jesus Christ!  Hallelujah!  Point 4 is quite the cliche, but still very true.  Too often we get sucked into the consumeristic antics of the North American society, but at the end of the day none of that matters if you are a sucky person on the inside.  God doesn't care for the outside, but really looks at our hearts.  I have to continually search my heart and ensure I am living my life for Him, and Him alone!  Point 5 spoke to me as well, with all the stuff that God has been putting me through.  It is true that whatever situation God puts me in, I have to respond in a way that is holy and pleasing to him.

I love how God speaks to me, regardless of the medium.  Love, love, love!