A Great Parable of Grace

From a Chinese "Daughter" in Singapore to Uncle Gary

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 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 one half pots of water
in his master’s house.

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 it 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. But if we will allow it, the Lord
will use our flaws to grace His Father’s table. I
n God’s great economy, nothing goes to waste.

So as we seek ways to minister together, and
as God calls you to tasks He has appointed for
you, don’t be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge
them, and allow Him to take advantage of them,
and you, too, can be the cause of beauty in His
pathway. Go out boldly, knowing that in our
weakness we find His strength, and that "In Him
every one of God’s promises is a Yes."