This is from an e-mail that I received several years ago. I don’t know who the author is. If you do, please let me know. I’d love to give them credit. Enjoy.

A water bearer in India carried two large pots hung on each end 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 master’s house; the cracked pot arrived only half full.

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. The 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 home. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work; and you don’t get full value from your efforts,” the cracked pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old, cracked pot. 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 cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. At the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load. Again it apologized to the water 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 walked 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. 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.

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, give them to Him, and allow Him to take advantage of them. You, too, can be the cause of beauty in His pathway.

Go out knowing that in our weakness we find His strength.

2 Cor 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.