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 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.
But, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For 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. In his compassion,
the water bearer said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you
to notice 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 the cracked pot somewhat. But at
the end of the trail, the pot still felt bad because it had leaked out
half its load; so,once again, it apologized to the water 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; every day as we walk
back from the stream, you've watered those seeds. 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 to some
extent. 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. Go
out boldly knowing that in our weakness, we find His strength.
-Author Unknown
