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
masters house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years bearer delivering
this went on daily, with the only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of
course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.
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 the pot
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. Don't be afraid
of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and you too can be the cause of beauty.
Know that in our weakness we find our strength.
-- author unknown