The Cracked Pot
Author Unknown
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 what we perceive to be flaws. What we see in ourselves as flaws
are really the uniqueness placed in us by the hand of God. Instead of moaning
and groaning and fighting against them, accept them from the hand of a loving
Father and seek what His purpose is in our uniqueness.
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.
Author unknown and
there are also several variations of this story in circulation. We have added
our personal note to make it Scriptural.
And the LORD said unto him,
Who hath made man’s mouth?
or who maketh the dumb, or deaf,
or the seeing, or the blind?
have not I the LORD?
Exodus 4:11
And we know that
all things work together for good
to them that love God,
to them who are the
called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
For I am persuaded,
that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
nor
things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth,
nor any other
creature,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God,
which is in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
And he said unto me,
My grace is sufficient for thee:
for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities,
that the power of
Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
