The Vase

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 1 Corinthians 13:6

 Props: two identical glass vases, one in its original condition and the other “glued” together

             Once there was a little girl whose mother gave her a glass vase.  The vase was ordinary, but it was special to the girl because it was a gift from her mother.  She kept the vase on the dresser in her room, but when it got dusty she would carry it to the kitchen sink to wash it.  One day as she walked into the kitchen with the vase, she tripped and dropped the vase, and it broke into dozens of pieces.  (Hide the vase)  The little girl was so sad because the vase was so special to her.  Her father walked in and saw the mess.

            “Dad, what am I going to do?” she asked.

            “You’ll have to throw the pieces away.  They’re dangerous and they might hurt you,” replied her father.

            “Can’t we fix it?” asked the girl.

            The father knew that fixing it would take a long time, but he agreed to help her fix it.  He knew how much that vase meant to her.  They worked for hours, finding pieces and figuring out how they all fit together.  Finally, the vase was fixed.  The girl was so happy to have her vase back.  She put it once again on her dresser to look at and enjoy.  (Display second vase).

            When someone messes up, or “falls,” and makes a mistake, it is up to you what you’re going to do about it.  If you love them, like the little girl loved her vase, you’ll try to help them get back together again.  You’ll go to God and let Him fix their problems.

            If you don’t love them, you won’t care that they’ve made a mistake and their life might be falling apart.  You’ll give up on them or worse yet, be happy that they’re making so many mistakes. 

            If you really love someone, you’ll help them make things right when they’ve made a mistake.  You’ll ask God to help them get their life back together.  True love wants others to be their very best.