Pots
- 20th February 2015
"An elderly Chinese
woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of pole which she carried across
her 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 walks from the
stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two
years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots
of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the
poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it
could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.
'I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.'
The old woman smiled, '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, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.'
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.
'I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.'
The old woman smiled, '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, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.'
Each of us has our
own unique flaw. 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.
So, to all of my cracked pot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!
So, to all of my cracked pot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!