In the story, A Single Shard, "Tree-ear", an orphan boy, watches a master potter at his work.  He sees the care the potter puts into forming the clay and how he is not satisfied with less then perfection. There is much in this story we can learn for how we need to be clay in the hands of our Heavenly Father, who is fashioning us for his heavenly palace.  Advent is a chosen time; let us be maleable in His hands!