 |
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 masters
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 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 your 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.
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.
|
Thee you at the Hafenkrankenhaus!
don’t miss the: Latest THEOry
oder: Nelson’s Tip
|
