We live to be happy. Our vision of happiness leads us to make choices and shape our lives. Life throws up several situations and we find ourselves behaving and responding differently depending on the situation.

And sometimes we wonder whether we should be tough or should we be loving and compassionate. The answer is not an Either-Or. It lies in the power of And. Just like a potter.

When a potter shapes the pot on the wheel he does two things. He puts pressure on the clay to give the right shape and yet he holds the pot from within to prevent it from breaking.

Bringing up our children is similar. There are times we are tough helping shape them so that they don’t go astray, and yet we always carry the caring hand to hold them so that they don’t break.

We too are deserving of our own  ability to be tough and disciplined, and yet we mustn’t be too hard on ourselves. Caring for ourselves helps shape us.

And like a potter, whether he’s putting pressure or holding the pot from within, it’s done with love. And he lovingly puts the pot in fire to harden it and make it durable. 

Let people come to trust us and see our love when we help shape things. Whether we’re tough or compassionate, let us learn to be fired with love. 

And it’s our loving nature that will ultimately shape us to become who we are meant to be.