years ago I was doing an event with children and I invited a known potter to come and do a session with the kids. She was a very spiritual person. As they sat entranced as she made a bowl, there was a loud gasp when she smashed the clay. "Splat"  she said." It is like God saying splat- we can all start over again. God invites us to do that." or some such words. When the parents came that evening to pick the kids up, I overheard a  7 or 8 year old telling his mom about the potter. He said," whatever we do wrong - splat. God invited us to start over". So whenever I hear any sermon about the potter and the clay, I am encouraged because whatever is happening in my life that is not life-affirming. Splat - God invites me to start over. I wonder about the kids that day who are now adults  - do they remember too.

Now I will go and read what you have written.