Message - Broken Vases - by Randy Nelsen

There was a woman who lived in the desert.The desert was very dry and water was very scarce. This woman had lived many years in the desert. The woman was forced to take a long journey each day to a natural spring, far from her home in order to survive.She had to carry a large vase on her shoulders every time she went to the spring.

Then one day she stumbled and fell to her knees, and her vase for carrying water was shattered. This Vase was her only way to carry the water she needed home. She slowly rose to her feet weeping and heartbroken that she had broken her vase. Suddenly a strange thing happened as her tears touched the dry soil. A great Rosebush sprung up from the ground in the spot where her vase had broken and her tears had fallen. The Rosebush was filled with exquisite Red Roses that sprang forth as she watched in amazement.It was then that she hear a Loud clear voice reverberate within her shaking her to her very core. "My Child, your Vase is Broken but I have seen your tears, your tears have watered the dry soil and it will now be fruitful."  The woman looked around somewhat stunned and then something amazing happened The entire Desert began to Transform into a luscious Garden before her very eyes.The whole valley began to blossom like a flower in spring, she gazed in wonderment upon fruit trees, Plant, all kinds of flowers spring forth. Finally as she stood frozen in awe she saw a River begin to Rise in the midst of the Garden. She sank to her knees,  and lifted her hands to worship the one true God who was able to turn the Dry Desert into a Beautiful Garden.   

It is often the case that the tears of our sorrow become the Rain of our Harvest and the watering that  brings the dry desert of our Heart to life, turning it into a beautiful Garden. If we have lived in a season of dryness all we need to do is become a broken vessel just like the vase in the story. 

When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 

Luke 7:36