The story of two Pots - Pridenetta & Humilitalia

The story of two Pots - Pridenetta & Humilitalia.

Once upon a time in a land far far away lived many pots of various sizes and shapes . Today we are going to  look at the lives of two pots who lived in the Kingdom of King Potliander. They were Pridenetta and Humilitalia. 

One day King Potliander who ruled over this land of many pots fell very ill. No doctors in that land could cure him. He was becoming more sick every day. 

His Admin Minister had heard about some healing water in a deep well up on Mount Pottypine. So he summoned all the pots in that land. When they arrived, he gathered all the big, small,  beautiful, plain, tall, short,  chipped and broken pots and began addressing them.

"Oh citizens of Pot-Land! Our great King Potliander has fallen gravely ill. No medicine can cure him except the healing water in the deep well, high up on Mount Pottypine . The king has announced that a great reward will be given to the pot which would fetch the healing water from that well for him."

A great commotion rose among the pots that had gathered that summer morning. 

*( By the way my dear young ladies and gentlemen,  let me clear your doubts. These pots in the land of Pots had hands and legs and could walk and talk like any of us. It was a land of fairies and anything can happen in it.)

The king's admin minister hushed the crowd and asked the strongest pot to come forward. A tall, big, plain looking tea-pot came forward.  After examining it he rejected it. He then called for another pot to come forward. 

This time a beautiful Pot called Pridenetta which looked so exquisite and painted with lively and enchanting colours came forward with pride. The minister fell in love with its beauty and exclaimed, "Oh lovely!  You will be the right pot to fetch the healing water for our king. When he looks at your beauty and exquisite patterns and colours on you, half his illness will be gone. Then when he drinks the healing water from you, he will be completely healed. I now appoint you to go and fetch the healing water from Mount Pottypine." Then he dismissed all the other pots.

Pridenetta lifted its head up high in pride. It gave a haughty look at all the other pots which were dismissed. Then it began to strut arrogantly towards Mount Pottypine to get the healing water, all the while thinking about the rich reward it will be getting. 

While it was on its way it met a cracked and broken pot called Humilitalia, with lots of holes and cracks on it, walking beside it.

"Where are you going" asked Humilitalia to Pridenetta.

"Don't you know that our venerable king Potliander is gravely ill. I, the most beautiful Pridenetta, have been chosen from all the pots of this land, to bring the healing water from the well which is on top of Mount Pottypine to him. Well I should not be talking to useless vessels like you. If not I will be late in getting my rich reward. Good bye,"  answered Pridenetta arrogantly and began to strut even faster.

"Oh wow!," exclaimed Humilitalia. "I too want to bring him some water. What if the water you bring is not enough? The more water he drinks the better he will be!"

"Eeewww!" Exclaimed Pridenetta in disgust.  "You of all the pots? First of all, you can't even hold a cup of water in you without it all spilling out through the cracks and holes in you. Besides, have you ever seen yourself in the mirror? The moment our king looks at you he will faint and die. You don't look presentable at all! You look disgusting!"

Saying that it strutted even faster and climbed the mountain walking towards the well. Poor Humilitalia followed behind humbly but persistently wanting to help the king. 

Pridenetta reached the well and carefully inched down the steps in the well. When it reached the bottom it lowered itself into the waters and scooped up just enough  water in it for the king. Having done that it came up cautiously, without spilling the water. It saw Humilitalia standing beside the well. It gave Humilitalia a snobbish look and turned away arrogantly. Then it slowly and carefully made its way down the mountain and toward its kingdom. 

Beside the well stood Humilitalia patiently. It smiled to itself when Pridenetta  snubbed it. It too wanted to go down the well to get some water for the king. It knew its inadequacies.  Therefore it called out to the Master Potter loudly. 

*(The Master Potter is the one who moulded and made the pots in the Kingdom of Pots. Remember that this is a land of fairies! So when anyone calls out to the Master Potter, he will appear to them.)

"Who called me," boomed the Master Potter in a loud voice. He was big in size, had a very kind face, had curly white hair and had a long white beard like Santa Claus.

"It was me sir," replied Humilitalia in a timid voice. 

"How can I help you my child," asked the Master Potter, looking lovingly at the cracked pot. 

"Sir, my king,  King Potliander, is gravely ill. The admin minister said that he will only live if he drinks this healing water. Pridenetta has brought him some of this water but what if he needs more? I know that I can't get the water to him by myself. I need your help. Would you help me," asked Humilitalia humbly and pleadingly. 

"Sure my child! Anyone who comes to me humbly and asks for my help, will not be put to shame.  I will help you bring the water to him." 

Saying that, the Master Potter lifted Humilitalia in his hands, scooped some healing water into it. Then he cupped both his hands around the pot.  The water could not come out through the cracks and holes of the pot because the Master Potter's hands were clasped around it covering every single crack and hole perfectly. It was he who made it when it was only a piece of clay. Therefore he knew how to hold it and fill it with the healing water. 

Now, Pridenetta which went ahead earlier reached the king's Palace. The admin manager met it at the Palace gate and brought it to the king. The king sat up eagerly and took the pot in his hands. He looked at its beauty, but he was too weak and sick to admire it. 

Pridenetta told King Potliander with pride, "Your Majesty, I went all the way to fetch this healing water for you. I know that when you drink it from me, you will be healed! In fact an ugly broken pot wanted to bring you this water, but I came before it. It is not even fit to be presented before you,  your Majesty!"

The King weakly put the pout of the pot to his lips and drank the water. At first he drank a little then he gulped all, but he was still weak and sick as before. Nothing had changed.

 Pridenetta asked him to look at it and admire its beauty and colours,  saying that would make him feel better. The king got irritated and told the admin minister to send it away. Pridenetta was so sad and angry because it did not get the reward. "My reward! My reward! I lost it," sobbed Pridenetta as it walked away angrily stamping its feet. 

Just a while later, there was a knock on the door of the king's  chamber. "Who is that," asked the minister. 

A feeble voice replied, "It's me, the cracked pot, and my Master Potter!" 

 "What do you want? King Potliander is sick and he cannot attend to you now," said the minister.

"Oh, we have come to give him the miracle water which will heal him," answered Humilitalia. 

"Oh well, he had some of the water earlier and it had not done him any good, so go away, " said the minister.

"Sir, if I may interrupt,  this water will heal him," boomed a voice from outside the chamber. 

The minister opened the door to see who it was. There stood the Master Potter with a kind face, holding the cracked pot, which was filled with the healing water, in his hands. 

The minister looked at the Potter,  then looked at the cracked and broken pot and looked into it.  When he saw the pot full of the sparkling water he exclaimed in amazement,  "Oh goodness gracious! You Humilitalia, a cracked pot full of holes, are full of water! This is amazing! Alright, come on in! Let the king drink the water from you!" 

Saying that he brought both the Potter and Humilitalia to the king's bedside. The king could not even sit up this time. The Master Potter poured the water from Humilitalia, little by little into the king's mouth. As soon as the water went down the king's throat, the king felt better. He sat up and felt his strength returning. Suddenly he was so energised that he jumped out of his bed with glee.  He hugged Humilitalia and thanked both the pot and the Potter. 

King Potliander said "I drank the same healing water from the beautiful pot, Pridenetta earlier but nothing happened. Now again I drank it from you, Humilitalia, the cracked pot, and am completely healed. Therefore you Humilitalia, will be given a huge reward which I promised.

"Oh no your majesty," replied Humilitalia humbly. "I am just a broken vessel. It was my Master Potter who filled me up and held me firmly so that the water would not seep through the cracks and holes in ne. It was he who carried me to you and it was he who poured the water into your mouth. I did not do anything. I don't deserve any reward.  Please give the reward to him and Pridenetta which walked all the way to the well and walked back with the water for you. She deserves the reward for  her hard work."

The King was touched by Humilitalia's humility.  He said, "I know now why I was not healed when I drank from Pridenetta. It was full of pride. Therefore the water lost it's healing property. Further more her motive was not right. She wanted to bring me the water only for the reward. But you, on the other hand are so humble.  You acknowledged your Master Potter who is your maker. You ascribed all glory to him.  It was your humility that mingled with the water and made the healing properties in it more potent. Your motive was not to get the reward but you really wanted to see me healed. That's why I was healed. I love your attitude. I have realised that, only those with humble hearts can achieve anything. It is because the humble ones always call upon their maker and he comes to be with them and work out things through them. Come now my dear Humilitalia , come and receive your reward."

Humilitalia  could not believe its ears. It thanked the King and its maker, the Master  Potter and received its reward from the King. 

Moral of the story:- 

1) No matter how weak or small you are do not be sad or afraid. Remember that you can do all things through Christ Who strengthens you.

 Philippians 4:13 ESV

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

2) Always be humble and you will win God's favour. 

Proverbs 29:23

A man’s pride will bring him low,

But a humble spirit will obtain honor.

Matthew 23:12

Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

Psalm 37:11 says, “But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.”

The meek “humbly acknowledge their dependence on the goodness and grace of God”  They will depend on God and give Him all the glory.

Hope you enjoyed the story? If so please share it with your friends.

 

God bless you.🙌

Mary Augustine  ✍️ 🌹