Cracked Pots Inspiration

[Guest guest]

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, 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 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 two 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 al

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 water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his

compassion he said, " As we return to the master's house, I want you

to notice the beautiful flowers along the path. " Indeed, as they went

up the hill, the old 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

leaked out half its load, and so again it 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 your path, but not on the other pot's side?

That's because I have always known about your flaw. I planted flower

seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back

from the stream, 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. There

is a lot of good out there. There is a lot of good in you! Blessed

are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life! Or as

I like to think of it-if it hadn't been for the crackpots in my life,

it would have been pretty boring and life certainly would have been

much less interesting...