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 a half pots full of water to his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot
was proud of it 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 a bitter failure, it spoke to the
water bearer on 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 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 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 your 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. So as we seek ways to minister together,
and as God calls you to the tasks He has appointed for you, 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. Go out boldly, know that in our
weakness we find His strength, and that "In Him every one of God's
promises is a Yes."
Author Unknown