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

“There are five things you need to know,” he told the pencil, “before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget them, and you will become the best pencil you can be.”

# 1   “You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone’s hand.”  

# 2   “You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you will need it to become a better pencil.”

# 3   “You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.”

# 4  “The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.”

# 5  “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.

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Now, substitute the place of the pencil with YOU.  Always remember these five things and never forget them, and you will become the best person you can be.

# 1   “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. Everything you do will always leave a mark.”

# 2   “You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time as you go through various problems in life. You will need this to become a stronger person, one that is better and more useful.”

# 3   “You can always correct any mistakes you might make.”

# 4   “What is important is what’s inside of you.”

# 5   “On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, continue to do your duties." 

Allow this parable of the pencil to encourage you. Never allow yourself to become discouraged and/or to think that your life is insignificant and cannot be changed. Know that you are a special person and the only one who can fulfill the purpose for which you were born. Remember—the most important part of who you are is what’s inside of you.

GET YOUR LEAD OUT!

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.  Ephesians 2:10 NLT

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”  Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10

For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was His plan from before the beginning of time—to show us His grace through Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:9 NLT

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 KJV

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Psalm 139:14a