Posted by Snoozy on May 10, 2003, at 11:23:35
In reply to Story, posted by noa on May 10, 2003, at 8:40:57
I got this story in an email from a family member a few months ago. Very fitting for our family as we're all a bunch of crack pots ;-)
I thought it was a really nice story - very good thing to share. Thanks!
> 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:Snoozy
thread:225550
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030506/msgs/225569.html