Cracked Pots

The topic of cracked pots has been coming up over and over again in my e-mail inbox today, so I guess it's probably a green light to write about it.  First, A story my co-worker sent me:


CRACKED POTS, A story

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. 

At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. 

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.. 



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 could only do ha lf of what it had been made to do 

After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. 

'I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.' 

The old woman smiled, 'Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?' 

That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.' 

For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. 

Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.' 
  
Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.. 
You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them. 
SO, to all of my cracked pot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path! 

Second, Something biblical that reminds me that we are all like the cracked pot.......................

 Treasure in Clay Jars

2 Corinthians 7 Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this
extraordinary power (M) may be from God and not from us. 8 We are
pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in
despair; 9 we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but
not destroyed. 10 We always carry the death of Jesus (N) in our body,
so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we
who live are always given over to death (O) because of Jesus, so that
Jesus' life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. 12 So death
works in us, but life in you. 13 And since we have the same spirit of
faith in accordance with what is written, I believed, therefore I
spoke, (P) (Q) we also believe, and therefore speak, 14 knowing that
the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, (R)
and present us with you. 15 For all this is because of you, so that
grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving
(S) to overflow to God's glory.
   16 Therefore we do not give up; (T) even though our outer person
is being destroyed, our inner person (U) is being renewed day by day.
17 For our momentary light affliction (V) [b] is producing for us an
absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. (W) 18 So we do not
focus on what is seen, (X) but on what is unseen; for what is seen is
temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.


And there you have it.  You might sometimes be a cracked pot.  God is still using you, maybe, you don't even know it.  Other times we are clay jars, overflowing with the good God has instilled in us.  Choose which one you want to be today.