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.
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