"THE CRACKED POT"

 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. 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, 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 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 for 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  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 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'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.

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
 beauty in His pathway.

Go out boldly, knowing that in our weakness we find His strength and that  "In Him every one of God's promises is   Yes."