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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 in his masters 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
myload because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the
way back to your masters 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
hiscompassion he said,
"As we return to the masters 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 are all cracked pots. But if
we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Fathers
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
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