---------------------- Forwarded by Robert D Hamilton/Page Digital on
02/03/99 12:53 PM ---------------------------
To All,
I am not sure if you have seen this before. If not, it's a keeper.
If this doesn't warm your heart, check your pulse.
God bless and have a great day.
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 masters 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 masters 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 masters 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 pots 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 masters 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 Fathers table. In
Gods 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.
att1.unk
