An elderly 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 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 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 half of what it had been made to do.

After 2 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.

“Dear, without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.”

CRACKED POT STORY DISCUSSION

Cracked pot story reminds us that each one of us has our own unique flaws. We are all somewhere like the cracked pots! But if we pray to God regularly then He will make our mistakes and weaknesses into our best qualities. In God's world there is nothing useless. Purpose of our life is to do best with what we have available.

Sometimes we are sad because we are unhappy with ourselves; because we are not perfect; we do not have everything perfect. Learning to be happy with yourself is a very important key to enjoy your life. Irrespective of circumstances we must have joy everyday. We all can be happy, content and joyful irrespective of circumstances.

God does not want us to be perfect. All humans have weaknesses, we all do mistakes. Sometimes when circumstances are tough, many people feel that their life is wasted, they are so imperfect and nobody loves them. It is wrong. God creates perfect pots; Circumstances and people exert unnecessary pressure on them for their selfish interests and make crack in them. However, God still loves all his cracked pots.

Like that cracked pot, all of us can accomplish wonderful things. We can make some one smile, we can make a child happy, we can encourage one who is feeling low or lonely in life. We all can use God gifted talents to serve God and as a reward learn to enjoy our own life.

Acknowledge your flaws to God. Do not be afraid. God has made every one beautiful. There is no smiling face that is not beautiful. Have faith, work for God and he will turn your weakness into your strength.