A water bearer in India had two large pots, 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 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 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 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 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. 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.
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