I am so sorry that I have been gone for so long. I had surgery and my recovery has been very long and difficult. It is still not over. No worries, I feel much better and I can even blog!  There are so many things to tell you and so many things to share. However, I will have to share them with  you later as I have to play "catch up" on my life. I will leave you with this.

The Cracked Pot

A water bearer in India 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 masterÂ’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 masterÂ’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 masterÂ’s house.  Because of my flaws, you have to do all this work, and you donÂ’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 potÂ’s side?  ThatÂ’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, youÂ’ve watered them.  For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my masterÂ’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.  WeÂ’re all cracked pots.  But if we will allow it, God will use our flaws to grace his table.  In GodÂ’s great economy, nothing goes to waste.  DonÂ’t be afraid of your flaws.  Acknowledge them, and you too can be the cause of beauty.  Know that in our weakness, He is strong!

2 Cor 12:9 says, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’

Blessings to you!