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. 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."
We all have our own unique flaws. We are all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the
Lord will use our flaws to grace The Master's table. In God's great economy, nothing goes
to waste. So as God calls us and we seek ways to minister together, let us not be afraid of
your flaws. Acknowledge them, and allow God to take advantage of them, and you, too,
can be the cause of beauty on life's pathway. Go out boldly, knowing that in our weakness
there is strength, and in our imperfections there is purpose.
you are loved and
accepted with or with out cracks & with or with out holes.
AMEN
