Tess

[Guest guest]

Tess, when I read this I thought of you and how you might think that you are

a cracked pot at times, but your wonderful letters and poems are like the

flowers that spring up in this poem. I hope that you are having a better day.

Barb

Cracked Pots

Authur Unknown

A water bearer in China 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 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to

the water bearer one day by the stream. " I am ashamed of myself,

because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way

back to your house. "

The bearer said to the pot, " Did you notice that there are flowers on

your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?

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 water 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 "

Each of us has our own unique flaws. 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.

To all our crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell

the roses!