励志美文精华:上帝的恩典
编者按：
你注意到了吗？那些野花只生长在你这一侧的路上，而不是另一侧。那是由于我早就了解你的瑕疵，并充分利用了它。我在你这一边的路上种上花籽，每天当我从小溪旁运水而归时，你就给它们浇了水。两年过去了，我现在可以摘下这些美丽的花儿来装饰主人家的桌子了。倘若不是因为你的特别之处，我们就不会有那些美丽的花来美化主人的屋子了。
The highest grace
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 two years this went on daily, with the water bearer delivering one and one-half pots full of water to his masters 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 had perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke one day to the water bearer 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 last 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 do not get full value for your efforts,” the pot explained.
The water bearer felt sorry for the cracked pot, and in his compassion, he said, “As we return to the masters house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the 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 still leaked half of its load, and so again the pot 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 the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That is 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 have watered them. For two years I have been able to pick those 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 are all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father’s table. In God’s great economy, nothing goes to waste. Don’t be ashamed of your flaws.Acknowledge them, and you too can be the cause of beauty. Know that in our weakness we find our strength.
上帝的恩典
印度有一个运水的脚夫，他有两个水罐，分别挂在杆子的两端，杆子横跨在脖子上。其中一个水罐有一道裂缝，而另一个则完好无损。因此脚夫从小溪千里迢迢运水到主人家时，这个完好的水罐总能满载而归，而那个破裂的水罐却只能装回一半的水。整两年的时间他每天如此，运到主人家的水只有一罐和半罐。
当然那个完好无损的水罐对自己的成就感到十分骄傲，因为它所做的事自始至终都是完美的。而那个可怜的有裂缝的水罐则为自己的不完美而感到羞愧难当，想到自己只能完成所做的事的一半，伤心极了。经过了两年自认为是痛苦的失败后，有一天它在小溪旁对这个运水脚夫说：
“我对自己感到羞愧，我想向你道歉。”
“为什么呢？”脚夫问道，“是什么事让你觉得羞愧呢？”
“这两年来，因为我身上的裂缝，运水到主人家时一路上总是漏水，等到了主人家就只剩下半罐水了。由于我的缺陷，你必须做所有的工作，而你的价值却没法得到充分的体现。”这个水罐说。
脚夫为这个破旧的水罐感到难过，心里产生了同情，说道：“当我们返回主人家的时候，我会让你注意到路边那些美丽的花儿。”
的确，当他们上山的时候，这个破旧的水罐注意到，太阳暖暖地晒着路边的美丽的野花，这使它多少有些快乐。但是当行程结束时，它仍然为自己漏了一半的水而感到难过。所以它又一次因为自己的失败而向脚夫道歉。
脚夫对这个水罐说：“你注意到了吗？那些野花只生长在你这一侧的路上，而不是另一侧。那是由于我早就了解你的瑕疵，并充分利用了它。我在你这一边的路上种上花籽，每天当我从小溪旁运水而归时，你就给它们浇了水。两年过去了，我现在可以摘下这些美丽的花儿来装饰主人家的桌子了。倘若不是因为你的特别之处，我们就不会有那些美丽的花来美化主人的屋子了。”
我们每个人都有独特的缺点。我们都是有裂缝的水罐。但是如果我们允许这一点的存在，那么上帝就会用我们的瑕疵来装点他的桌子。
1.compassion n. 同情,怜悯
I had compassion for him.
我怜悯他。
2.grace [greis] n. 优雅,魅力,恩惠,慈悲 vt. 使荣耀,装饰
3.economy n.摄理，配置
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