The Cracked Pot
A water bearer in India had two large pots; one 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 its accomplishments, perfect to the end
for which it was made. However, 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.
Nevertheless, 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 is 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 have 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 are all cracked pots. However, if we
will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table.
by Willy McNamara
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