Posted by noa on May 10, 2003, at 8:40:57
OK, I usually don't love the kind of inspirational stories that float around the internet. But I thought this one might be appreciated here. I got it in an email from a relative.
Cracked Pots
>A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole
>that 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 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 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, 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 your 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 have 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!
poster:noa
thread:225550
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030506/msgs/225550.html