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A water bearer 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 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 imperfection, 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 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 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,
the pot 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 had 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 we find our strength.
The twelve disciples would never have been found in a Who's Who? in Jerusalem or
Nazareth or Galilee. They were fairly obscure and, at first glance, not very talented
individuals. That didn't stop Jesus from calling them into ministry, for he believed
there was a giant inside each of them waiting to be awakened. Jesus brought forth from
them qualities and talents and abilities they never knew they had.
Many people do not realize how gifted and talented they really are. Many ordinary
individuals do not know that there is a giant hidden within them. What they need
is someone to call it to their attention.
What are some of the ways we could act in concert with Jesus in unveiling the talents
and abilities of our friends and families?
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