The Cracked Pot............


A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on the ends 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 portion of water. At
the end of the long walk from the stream to the 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 house.


Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect 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 2 yrs 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. I have been able to deliver only half my load because this
crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.
Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full
value from your efforts."


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 planted flower seeds on your side of the
path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I
have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.
Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to
grace the house."


Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all "cracked pots". But it's
the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very
interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they
are, and look for the good in them. Happy are the flexible, for they shall
not be bent out of shape. Remember to appreciate all the different people in
your life, especially since we are all "cracked pots" too!