FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ THE CRACKED POT ~ 09 February 2014

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[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

THE CRACKED POT

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on the end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and 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 master’s 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 of full of water in his master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two 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, and I want to apologize to you." "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.

Each of us has our 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. You’ve just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.

Chaplain Mitch Schranz

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good afternoon, Arrowhead...for your sake I hope it is gone for good too.

A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

[Kathy in Alaska]

A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours, Meg.

Love those Marines! Thank you for the prayer for our protectors. ((HUGS))

[MEG33]

A Blessed Lord’s Day To You
Thank you, Kathy
(((HUGS)))

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good afternoon/evening, Lady J...((HUGS))...a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

How are you faring with the weird weather? Power outages? Generator system working well? Snow?

Our heat wave seems to be over and the temps are dropping finally into the norms, and MAYBE snow by the end of the week.

[itssme]

Thank you, Kathy. You have a big heart and kind soul, and you are a great communicator. It feels very homey here at the Canteen, and I pray that our soldiers, both active and inactive, will not let this country be destroyed by the communist/socialist/marxist government in OUR White House. It's my fervent prayer that we win this war on our soil. Those soldiers of all past and present wars must not have given their all in vain. It will be up to We the People to make sure that they haven't.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hope the antibiotics start doing their job, and soon. Glad John-Man is feeling better. *HUGS*

I had a long list of errands, but they went like clockwork. Every stop had a close parking space, and no appreciable waiting to check out. AND....I have completed all listed tasks for the weekend. Still have to wash the windows on my car, but the suburban’s are done. Have some things still on the “hope I can get to” list, but we will see. I still need to uninstall/reinstall my Mom’s printer and hope that fixes whatever the problem is.

[Lady Jag]

Fog eats snow. You’re on the upswing.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound...

Beautiful!

[Cindy]

Hi Kathy.

Not quite 5 inches of snow last night and early morning and about 1” day and 1” a night earlier this week.

Got a -4 in the last week and half and single digits before the snow came.

It’s 25 right now and probably 2-3 inches of snow coming.

How have you been? Mostly ice?

Stay safe and warm.

A BIG hug to you and your mom.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hey, Cindy...((HUGS))

I’m hoping for snow by the end of the week. The main roads are clear and dry. I’m still using 4 wheel drive to get off my street and out of the neighborhood. Slip and slide turning every corner and be really careful about oncoming cars.

It’s pushing zero for nights and mid to low teens during the day.

I will pass on the hug to my Mom. Thank you.

[Kathy in Alaska]

A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours, Luv. And thanks for the hymns.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Beautiful hymns, Mac. Thanks.