July 5, 2007

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  ~ THE CRACKED POT ~ 
  
  
  ” … He shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use,
  and prepared for every good work.”
  II Tim 2:21

  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 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.  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 apologise 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 apologised 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.  In God’s great economy, nothing goes to waste.  So 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, 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.”     –Author Unknown
  
  
  

  

  
  I hope you’ve all had a blessed Happy Fourth!   What were some of your highlights?  Most outdoor activities around our area were canceled due to the buckets of rain that we had today!  Well, at least the tomato plants, that my dear husband planted, are loving it!  We just stayed in and had a nice quiet day!  Lewis fixed me breakfast this morning, and we had a light dinner.  I’m feeling somewhat better today, but still a bit apprehensive about that doctor visit on Monday!  Not to think on that now … we also got the phone call today from our son … YES!!  It’s a official … he got the tickets!!  Both Ian and Tim will be flying home Friday, arriving at 9:00a.m. our time!  Now, I’ll ask for those prayers for safe travels for them!  We are going to meet Tim’s parents at the airport, pick up our precious cargo, and go have some breakfast together and catch up!  Then Ian and I will head home … Lewis has to work that day … so it’ll just be me and my son for the afternoon!  But between now and then, I have to clean house, grocery shop, do laundry, and prepare clothes for our out-of-town weekend family wedding that we are going to.  I hope to hop back on and update as I get further into the weekend, but in the meantime, you all have a wonderful Thursday, and Friday!  I’m going to get welcome home pictures and I’ll try to post those on Friday night!  He’s also bringing the pictures from the drive out there last month … so I’ll be able to, finally, share those!  He just never had a chance to send them by snail mail, so now I’ll get them by air mail, but with a very special bonus package … Ian!   Bless you all, and I’ll be back soon!  
  
  
  Resting in Him …
  Love & Hugs!
  ~ Deborah <><

  • 3:31 am
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