Cracked Pots

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 accomplish-ments, 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. It said, "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 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 planted flower seeds on
your side of the path. Every day while we walk back,
you have watered them and 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 such beauty to grace the house."



Each of us has our own unique flaws and we are all cracked pots; but it's the cracks and flaws we each
have that make our lives together so very interesting
and rewarding. You have just got to take each person
for what they are and remember to look for the good
in them.



Blessings to all my crackpot friends and family.