Water Bearer

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 wit 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, perfect to the end for which it was made.  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 bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.  “I am ashamed, 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 of 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 of 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 on only 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 used 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.  We are 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.

– Author Unknown