The Water Bearer
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 master's house. Of course,
the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, effect 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, 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 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 flower seeds on your side of the path,
and everyday 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 Father's table.
Don't be afraid of your flaws. In God's great economy, nothing
goes to waste.
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Last updated 01/27/00 17:57