A water-bearer in India had two large pots,
each hung on the end of a pole
which he carried across his neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it,
and 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 own unique flaws.
We're all cracked pots.
But if we will allow it,
the Lord will use our flaws
to grace His 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.
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."
