Welcoming our failures and flaws, as friends, is a foreign concept,
but it is the key to genuine spiritual growth… Jas.1: 2
This was one of the most beautiful clay pots in my garden.
There is a story told of a water bearer in India who had two large pots, each hung on the end of a pole, which he carried across his neck. One of the pots was perfectly made and never leaked. The other pot had a crack in it; and, by the time the water bearer reached his master’s house, it had leaked much of its water and was 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 to his master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. 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 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 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 everyday while we walked back from the stream, you have watered them.
For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without your being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty grace his house!”
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We are all cracked pots. But if we allow it, God will use our flaws to grace His table. 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.
Sometimes it is easier to focus on our flaws, not realizing that they are a reminder that “God’s grace is sufficient for us…His power is made perfect in our weakness.” II Cor. 12:9
Do you ever focus on your flaws?
Be thankful for the things you are not able to do, they remind you who’s your source of strength and power…CHRIST.
Know that in our weakness we find our strengths.
Years ago, a young girl named Jessica sent this little story to me. Jessica is one of my girls from a discipleship class I taught in a local church for three years. She continues bless my heart…
Thank you, Jessica…
~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America. Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California. My passion is discipling and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights.
