The Cracked Pot

THE CRACKED POT

          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 always 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 the 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 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 of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path.”

          Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot look notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers in 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 of 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 flowers’ seed 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 the master’s table. Without you just being the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”

-from a forgotten source

REFLECTION:

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We are 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!