A
water bearer in India had two
large pots; one 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. However, 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.
Nevertheless,
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 is 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 have 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
are all cracked pots. However, if
we will allow it, the Lord will
use our flaws to grace His
Father's table.
~ Willy McNamara ~
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