The Cracked Pot
 

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hanging 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 created to do.

After 2 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. 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 pot said.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there are flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the side of the other pot? That's because I have always known about your flaw, so 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. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life!

THANK YOU, ALL MY CRACK - POT FRIENDS!

Thanks Lynn! What a great "reminder" to look at both sides of everything.

Sharon

This is a beautiful story. I love it! Thank you for sharing. It reminds me that even if I'm not the perfect woman, wife, mother, my family and friends still apreciate me for who I am!

Wow! How wonderful to be loved for who you truely are and not for what someone else wants you to be. And better yet for someone to remind you to value yourself for something you considered to be your down fall. Thank you. May we save this in the daily thought and inspirations sticky? I think I would benefit by reading it every once in a while.

Thanks for posting! It is a wonderful story!

Great story! It goes to show that everyone is capable of doing something that makes a difference in the lives of others, no matter how small.