Graciously Adorned: Cracked Pots!

Humans are like clay pots that are broken; we are imperfect but yet God seeks us to use in spite of our flaws. In ancient times people looked for damaged vessels, that were primarily used to carry water, because they made the best lanterns – the cracks allowed a candle to shine through and light their way at night! I love this! Let me share a story with you that means so much to me.

Once upon a time there was a servant man whose job was to bring water from the stream to his Master's house. The man carried the water from the stream in two clay pots. He hung the pots on each end of a pole, which he carried across his shoulders, to and from the stream many times a day.

One of the clay pots was perfect in every way for its purpose. The other pot was exactly like the first one, but it had a crack in it and it leaked. When the water bearer reached his Master's house, the perfect pot was always full, and the cracked pot was always half full.

The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, and it boasted loudly. It criticized the cracked pot for its failures, and reminded it that despite his efforts, the water bearer could only deliver half a pot of water due to his cracks. The poor cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfections, and was miserable that it could only accomplish half of what it was supposed to do.

One day the cracked pot spoke to the water bearer. "I want to apologize to you. Because of my cracked side I've only been able to deliver half of the water to your Master's home, and you don't get the full value from your efforts."The water bearer smiled at the 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 climbed the path from the river to the Master's mansion the cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful flowers along one side of the path, and his world felt somewhat brighter. But when they reached their destination and the water in the half-empty pot was poured out, his sadness returned. "Thank you for trying to cheer me up with the beautiful flowers, water bearer," The pot spoke. " But I still must apologize for my failure."

The water bearer said, "Dear pot, you haven't understood what I was trying to show you. Did you notice that the flowers only grew on your side of the path? That's because of your flaw. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and everyday as we walked from the stream, the water that leaks from your pot has watered them. I could have gotten a new pot, but my daily journeys wouldn't be near as enjoyable and I look forward to gathering the flowers daily because it adds such beauty to the Master's table."

Ohhhh how we all long to be something of beauty in the eyes of our Master, but the weight of sin and trials of life have left us frail and in need of mending. It is in this state that Jesus carefully chooses us and takes us as we are. With tender loving care He dusts us off, seeing great potential. He trusts us with himself and fills us with however much that we allow. He sees the gaps and brokeness and despite our insecurities uses us as containers to shine through and to flow out of. It is when we are willing holders of the glory of God that we are truly the happiest and most fulfilled because it is what we were created for.