[font=Garamond, Times, Serif]Once there was a man that lived high on a mountain. He had no running water, so each morning when he woke, he would gather 2 pots - one new & one with a large crack. He would place each one on the end of a large stick and make his way down to the river, fill them both & carry them back. Each time he would arrive home, the pot with the large crack in it would be half empty, but the man never seemed to mind. He would smile & empty them into a barrel. When the man finally put the pots away, the new pot would laugh at the broken pot & say :[/font]
[font=Garamond, Times, Serif]" Your useless... you can't even carry the water your supposed to.....The old man needs to get rid of you! ..Your worthless." [/font]
[font=Garamond, Times, Serif]This made the old pot feel very bad. He felt he was causing the old man a great deal of extra work, & this caused him to question his worth as a pot.[/font]
[font=Garamond, Times, Serif]One Day, as the man came for the pots... the cracked pot could not hold back his pain any longer and said to the old man:[/font]
[font=Garamond, Times, Serif]" Why not throw me away?...I am old & have a large crack. Every time you fill me, I'm half empty by the time you return from the water. A newer pot would be much better for carrying the water you need !"[/font]
[font=Garamond, Times, Serif]The old man just smiled and said "You're right."[/font]
[font=Garamond, Times, Serif]"But I do not use you for carrying water to the top of the mountain" Placing the old pot on the pole, he started to walk down the mountain. The old man looked at the cracked pot & said : "Have you ever noticed the wonderful wild flowers along the mountain path? Each winter, I take seeds & plant them along the path, & each spring they grow. I Love them & they makemy day so much better. Sometimes I pick them & give them to family or friends as a sign of my love for them. You see these flowers mean a great deal to me. Each morning, on our way down to the stream, you are on my left, away from the flowers, & each day on the way back, you're so concerned with not spilling the water... you miss them, but this time, notice one very important fact. You see, On our trip back, it's you & your brokeness that helps water these wonderful flowers. So you see, without you.. I would have no beauty on my trip, & no gifts to give my loved ones. You are greatly needed.[/font]
I think this story is a great reminder of how God is able to use us dispite our shortcomings, we can still be used mightily.
[font=Garamond, Times, Serif]" Your useless... you can't even carry the water your supposed to.....The old man needs to get rid of you! ..Your worthless." [/font]
[font=Garamond, Times, Serif]This made the old pot feel very bad. He felt he was causing the old man a great deal of extra work, & this caused him to question his worth as a pot.[/font]
[font=Garamond, Times, Serif]One Day, as the man came for the pots... the cracked pot could not hold back his pain any longer and said to the old man:[/font]
[font=Garamond, Times, Serif]" Why not throw me away?...I am old & have a large crack. Every time you fill me, I'm half empty by the time you return from the water. A newer pot would be much better for carrying the water you need !"[/font]
[font=Garamond, Times, Serif]The old man just smiled and said "You're right."[/font]
[font=Garamond, Times, Serif]"But I do not use you for carrying water to the top of the mountain" Placing the old pot on the pole, he started to walk down the mountain. The old man looked at the cracked pot & said : "Have you ever noticed the wonderful wild flowers along the mountain path? Each winter, I take seeds & plant them along the path, & each spring they grow. I Love them & they makemy day so much better. Sometimes I pick them & give them to family or friends as a sign of my love for them. You see these flowers mean a great deal to me. Each morning, on our way down to the stream, you are on my left, away from the flowers, & each day on the way back, you're so concerned with not spilling the water... you miss them, but this time, notice one very important fact. You see, On our trip back, it's you & your brokeness that helps water these wonderful flowers. So you see, without you.. I would have no beauty on my trip, & no gifts to give my loved ones. You are greatly needed.[/font]
I think this story is a great reminder of how God is able to use us dispite our shortcomings, we can still be used mightily.
