I will begin by clarifying that I am a cracked pot, not a crackpot. At least I hope that is the case! A crackpot is defined as a person who is foolish, eccentric, or crazy — no comments, please! I will readily admit to being a cracked pot, however. There is an ancient story that goes like this:

An elderly Chinese woman completed a daily trek to the stream past her home and back to supply her family with fresh water. She tied a heavy pot on each end of a long pole, which she carried across her shoulders.

One of the pots was in perfect condition and always delivered a full portion of water. The other had a deep crack in it, causing water to leak out. At the end of the long walk, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

This situation occurred daily for two years, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, but the cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection and miserable that it could only do half of what it thought it had been made to do.

After two years of what it had perceived to be bitter failure, the cracked pot spoke to the woman by the stream. “I am ashamed,” it said. “This crack in my side causes water to leak out. You work so hard and yet have little water once you return home.”

The old woman smiled and replied, “Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path? I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path. Every day, while we walked back home, you watered those seeds and helped them to grow. For two years, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table and give to neighbors. Without you being just the way you are, there would not have been this special beauty to grace our homes and lives.”

In Scripture, we are referred to as jars of clay — formed by the Potter. We are made as our Lord intended, but we are also sinful. Even in our cracked and imperfect bodies, because the Holy Spirit lives in us, we can share the light of Christ with the world!

⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us … ¹⁵ For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. ¹⁶ So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4: 7, 15–16).

Do you sometimes feel like a cracked pot? Take comfort and joy in the fact that God’s light shines through those cracks because He lives within you. Keep watering those flowers, keep shining His light, and keep praising our Father for His mercy and grace!

Today, and always, we are surrounded by HIS grace,

Debbie