2 Corinthians 4:7-9(NKJV)
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—
A water-bearer in India had two large pots, both hung on the ends of a pole, which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it 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 house, the cracked pot always arrived half full.
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. I have been able to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts.’
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 planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.’
This folktale from India is a beautiful illustration for all of us that we are useful to the Kingdom of God. We have been through battles in this life and at times we’ve been bruised throughout the process. We may feel we are not worthy to carry God’s message to the world, due to our broken and damaged past. But as this story illustrates, God uses all of us, in all of our various forms. All that is asked is to be willing to be used by the Master to beautify this world. To share His gospel truths of love, just like the cracked pot. I encourage you to spread Christ wherever you go, to whomever you encounter. Go and spread the fragrance of Christ…Cracked pot and all!!
Blessings,
Angelique~