Cracked Pots : A Story

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 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 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 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. 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.