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| The
Cracked Pot |
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on
each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One
of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot
was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water
at the end of the long walk from the stream to the
master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years, this went on daily, with the bearer
delivering only one and half pots full of water to his
master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of
its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was
made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own
imperfection and miserable that it was able to accomplish
only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter
failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.
"I am ashamed of myself and I want to apologize to you."
"Why?" asked the water bearer, "What are you ashamed of?"
"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver
only half my load because this crack in my side causes
water to leak out all the way back to your master's house.
Because of my flaws, you have to do all this work, and
you don't get full value from your efforts", the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot and
in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's
house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along
the path."
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took
notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on
the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But, at
the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had
leaked out half of its load and so again it apologized to
the bearer for its' failure.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there
were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the
other pot's side? That's because I have always known about
your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower
seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk
back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years
I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate
my master's table. Without you being just the way you are,
he would not have had this beauty to grace his house."
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We are all cracked pots.
But, if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to
grace us. In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste.
So as we seek ways to minister together and as God calls
you to the tasks appointed for you, don't be afraid of your
flaws. Acknowledge them and allow God to take advantage
of them and you, too, can be the cause of beauty in God's
pathway.
-- Unknown |
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