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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 in 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 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 ownunique 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, knowing that in our
weakness we find His strength, and
that "In Him every one of God's promises
is a Yes...
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