Monday, September 26, 2005
LET YOUR FLAWS WORK FOR YOU!
LET YOUR FLAWS WORK FOR YOU!
Author Unknown
Sep 26, 2005
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 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.
But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfections, 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, the pot
spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of
myself, and I want to apologize to you," said the pot. "Why, what are
you ashamed of?" asked the bearer. "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
wildflowers along the path." Indeed, 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 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 on
your side of the 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, God can find strength.
PRAYER
"Lord, your grace knows no bounds. You give freely to the humble of
heart and you grant us freedom to love and serve others selflessly. May
my love for you express itself in an eagerness to do good for others."
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