This inspirational story will
make you smile, but it is also full of words of wisdom. Many times in life we
are like the pot, we see what we can't do rather than seeing what we can do.
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 of water to his
house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, 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 my 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, we would not have such beauty."
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.
Also, it’s important to understand you were created in your very own
unique way, with your own special abilities.
Always look for the good in yourself, and continue to build on it!