Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2013 13:51:21 GMT
THE CRACKED POT
A water bearer had two large pots. Each pot hung on the end of a pole which he carried across his shoulders and neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, 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 always 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 half of what it had been made to do.
After these two years of what the cracked pot 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 water bearer. "Of what are you ashamed?"
"For these past two years I have been able to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out as you walk all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws you do all this work and you don't get full value from your efforts." the pot said.
The water bearer smiled and 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 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 half of 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 the path, but not on the side of the other pot? 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."
The cracked pot was puzzled, he didn't understand.
The water bearer explained, "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."
The cracked pot brightened, and suddenly found itself in anticipation of the next day to fulfill it's calling.
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're ALL "cracked pots", but if we allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table. In God's great economy Nothing goes to waste.
So.....as we seek ways to minister together, and as God calls you to the tasks He has appointed for you, don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and ALLOW Him to take advantage of them, and you, too, can be the cause of great beauty in His pathway.
Go out boldly, knowing that in our weakness, we find His strength, and that "In Him everyone of God's promises is YES!" May God bless you with being a cracked pot for God's use and Glory!
I love this ....
A water bearer had two large pots. Each pot hung on the end of a pole which he carried across his shoulders and neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, 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 always 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 half of what it had been made to do.
After these two years of what the cracked pot 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 water bearer. "Of what are you ashamed?"
"For these past two years I have been able to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out as you walk all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws you do all this work and you don't get full value from your efforts." the pot said.
The water bearer smiled and 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 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 half of 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 the path, but not on the side of the other pot? 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."
The cracked pot was puzzled, he didn't understand.
The water bearer explained, "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."
The cracked pot brightened, and suddenly found itself in anticipation of the next day to fulfill it's calling.
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're ALL "cracked pots", but if we allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table. In God's great economy Nothing goes to waste.
So.....as we seek ways to minister together, and as God calls you to the tasks He has appointed for you, don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and ALLOW Him to take advantage of them, and you, too, can be the cause of great beauty in His pathway.
Go out boldly, knowing that in our weakness, we find His strength, and that "In Him everyone of God's promises is YES!" May God bless you with being a cracked pot for God's use and Glory!
I love this ....