A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each
end of 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 a half pots full of water in his
master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its
accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own
imperfections, 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 a 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 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 of this work and
you don't get full value for 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 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 this beauty to grace his
house."
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots.
But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His
Father's table. In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste.
Don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them and allow Him
to take advantage of them, and you, too, can be the cause of
beauty in His pathway.
"In Him every one of God's promises is a Yes".
Thank You
