KNUTSFORD METHODIST CHURCH

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In God's Eyes Everyone is Important
Every day the servants of a particular house went down the long path to the well to collect water. They carried with them, for this purpose, two large earthenware jars. Unfortunately,

Happy Jar one jar had become badly cracked and, in consequence, leaked badly, so much so that when the servants returned to the house there was hardly any water remaining. The other jar, however, remained full.
Surprisingly perhaps, the servants seemed unperturbed by this and continued to use the same two jars day by day. The cracked jar, though, was not happy - in fact it was distinctly unhappy, and sorely embarrassed. It
Sad Jar

saw the good jar full of water re-entering the house each day whilst, at the same point, it had become virtually empty. It felt useless in comparison.

So one day, in its anguish, it challenged the servants.
"I'm obviously no good for carrying water!" it cried, "So why do you bother to keep on using me for this purpose?"
With an understanding smile the nearest servant said, "That's easy. Have you never noticed the vase of fresh flowers everyday on the master's table?"
"Well, yes", replied the jar, "But what's that got to do with me? I never carry any flowers."
This time the kindly servant laughed aloud.
Vase of Flowers

"Look back along the path to the well. You can see that one side is bare and dry whereas on the other side the soil is moist with a fine display of freshly growing flowers".
"That's the side on which we carry you."
Part of a sermon given by Rev Cris Acher; original story source not known but cited in Brian Dodd's forthcoming book, 'Apostolic Leadership: Ministry in the Spirit According to the Apostle Paul' (Inter Varsity Press).

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In God's Eyes Everyone is Important Every day the servants of a particular house went down the long path to the well to collect water. They carried with them, for this purpose, two large earthenware jars. Unfortunately,
	one jar had become badly cracked and, in consequence, leaked badly, so much so that when the servants returned to the house there was hardly any water remaining. The other jar, however, remained full. Surprisingly perhaps, the servants seemed unperturbed by this and continued to use the same two jars day by day. The cracked jar, though, was not happy - in fact it was distinctly unhappy, and sorely embarrassed. It
saw the good jar full of water re-entering the house each day whilst, at the same point, it had become virtually empty. It felt useless in comparison.
So one day, in its anguish, it challenged the servants. "I'm obviously no good for carrying water!" it cried, "So why do you bother to keep on using me for this purpose?" With an understanding smile the nearest servant said, "That's easy. Have you never noticed the vase of fresh flowers everyday on the master's table?" "Well, yes", replied the jar, "But what's that got to do with me? I never carry any flowers." This time the kindly servant laughed aloud.
"Look back along the path to the well. You can see that one side is bare and dry whereas on the other side the soil is moist with a fine display of freshly growing flowers". "That's the side on which we carry you." Part of a sermon given by Rev Cris Acher; original story source not known but cited in Brian Dodd's forthcoming book, 'Apostolic Leadership: Ministry in the Spirit According to the Apostle Paul' (Inter Varsity Press).