Linda Miller is a dear friend, ministry supporter, lover of God and a wordsmith extraordinaire. Her poems, reflections and verses have blessed me many times over. I invited her to my blog today and pray you will be blessed by her heart as much as she touches me. 

As life takes its toll on each of us, we can see the evidence on our bodies and in our spirit. Life may not be what we expect, but God is never surprised. This was inspired by a favorite old aluminum measuring cup…with dents on the bottom and cracks on edges. To most people it would be something to throw away, but I still use it for rice and beans. I cannot buy another one; they are no longer made. You are also one of a kind. God still has a purpose for you, no matter the age or scars.

Fill My Cup

This cup is like my life, Dear Lord

Battered, bent, and bruised;

But in Your Hands it still can be

A vessel to be used.

My spirit has some wrinkles,

Creases from time and wear.

My heart is cracked and broken,

But it still has love to share.

My hands and feet are not as agile

As they once used to be,

But they can still be useful

To care for those in need.

I am so thirsty for Your water,

The Living Stream that ever flows

From Your Fountain of Forgiveness

Until my cup overflows.

So fill my cup, oh Savior

With a measure of Your Grace.

Make mine a life worth living

Until with You I take my place.

Linda Miller

LLTM © 9-17-2004

Linda’s beautiful verse reminds me of an old Indian fable I loved so much, I included it in my book Hollow Victory.

Cracked Pots 

A water bearer in India had two large pots, one hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck.  One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full potion 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 half pots 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 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 what grows along the path back home.”

As they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on one side of the path.  The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the 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.”  The bearer smiled and said “Without you being the way you are, we wouldn’t have the beauty you see now.”

We are all cracked pots, but praise God, He still uses us for His honor, glory and plans. Linda’s reference to a broken vessel sounds so much more romantic than being called a ‘cracked pot’ but you get the idea. You are valuable. You are treasured. Your purpose is far greater than anything you can imagine.