The Cracked Pot
Painting by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, "The Broken Pitcher". 1891.
A water bearer had two large pots, each hung on the end of a long pole which
she carried across her 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
one-half pots full of water to her 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 was miserable that it was only able to accomplish 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 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 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 her compassion she
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 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 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 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.
Submitted by Duane L. Charter charterd@comcast.net
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please
authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances
dictate.