The Cracked Pot

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each 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 full of water to 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 of 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 side of your path, but not on the other pot's side?
That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I 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 own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we
will allow it, Allah will use our flaws to grace the table (the
world). In Allah ta'ala's great economy, nothing goes to waste. So as
we seek ways to minister together, and as Allah calls you to the tasks
He has appointed for you, don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge
them, and allow Him to take advantage of them, and you, too, can be
the cause of beauty in His pathway. Everything Allah commands to be
will always become a reality.

Author Unknown