Because of
the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from
exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan
to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the
Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, "My grace
is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly,
therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ
may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with
distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I
am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians
12:7-10
A water bearer in India had
two large pots. Each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his
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 walk from the
stream to the 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 house.
Of course, the perfect pot
was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor
cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was only
able to accomplish half of what it had been made to do.
After 2 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. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of
this extra work. You don't get full value from your efforts," the pot
said.
The bearer said to the pot,
"Did you notice that there are 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.
I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk
back, you've watered 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 flaws. We're all
cracked pots. But it's the cracks and
flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and
rewarding. If you keep on keeping on, God will fix some of your flaws, little by
little. Other flaws He may leave with
you for a while -- to water the flowers! You've just got to take
each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.
Maybe we need to learn what the pot learned that
day.
You can't call yourself a
failure if you don't know what your Master has in mind for you.
Scripture to Claim:
LORD my God, You have done many things--Your wonderful
works and Your plans for us; none can compare with You. If I were to report and
speak of them, they are more
than can be told. Psalms 40:5
