The finest china in the world is burned at least three times, some of it more than three times. Dresden china is always burned three times. Why does it go through that intense fire? Once ought to be enough; twice ought to be enough. No, three times are necessary to burn that china so that the gold and the crimson are brought out more beautiful and then fastened there to stay.

We are fashioned after the same principle in human life. Our trials are burned into us once, twice, thrice; and by God’s grace these beautiful colors are there and they are there to stay forever.                                                                  (Cortland Myers)

Earth’s fairest flowers grow not on sunny plain,

But where some vast upheaval rent in twain The smiling land . . . .

After the whirlwinds devastating blast,

After the molten fire and ashen pall,

God’s still small voice breathes healing over all.

From riven rocks and fern-clad chasms deep,

Flow living waters as from hearts that weep,

There in the afterglow soft dews distill

And angels tend God’s plants when night falls still,

And the Beloved passing by that way

Will gather lilies at the break of day.

J.H.D.

from: Streams in the Desert  Copyright © 2012
The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc. (Back to the Bible) Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
Used by permission. All rights reserved backtothebible.org

image:  sabinemcneill