Prayer
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 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."
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 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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