I came across this beautiful story of an old, cracked water pot. I used it in my message on Sunday and it is such a wonderful reminder of how God chooses to use us despite our flaws and imperfections. May God bless you and remind us of his deep grace for us all.
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, 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”. The bearer asked, “Why? What are you ashamed of?”
The Pot replied, “For these past two years I am able to deliver only half
of 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 don’t get full value for
your efforts”.
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.” As they went up the hill, the old, cracked pot
took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wildflowers on the side of the
path, and this cheered it somewhat. 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 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.” (Source, Unknown)
2 Corinthians 4:7 - But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
Living in Grace
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