The Cracked Pot

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Just wanted to share this touching story with you...see below...

-Joy

The Cracked Pot

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end 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 masters 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 master's house. Of course, the

perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments ... perfect to the end 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. "

" Why? " asked the bearer. " What are you ashamed of? " " I have been able, for

these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my

side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's 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, the pot 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 the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I

have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. 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 my master's table. Without you being

just the way you are, he would not have had this beauty to grace his house. "

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we

will allow it, We can use our flaws to grace life's table. In the world's

great economy, nothing goes to waste. Don't be afraid of your flaws.

Acknowledge them, and you too can be the cause of beauty. Know that in our

weakness we find our strength.

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