The Flaws of a Pot

Once an Indian water bearerhad two large pots, one hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crackin it, and while the other pot was perfectand always delivered a full portionof water.

At the end of the long walk from the streamto the master's house, the cracked potalways arrived only half full.

For two years this went on daily, with the bearerdelivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master's house.

Of course, the perfect potwas proud of its accomplishments, fulfilledin the designfor which it was made.

But the poor cracked potwas ashamedof its own imperfection, and miserablethat it was unable to accomplishwhat it had been made to do.

After two years of enduring this bitter shame, the potspoke to the water bearerone day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself and I apologize to you."

"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full valuefrom your efforts," the potsaid.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said,

"As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and was cheeredsomewhat.

But at the end of the trail, it still felt the old shamebecause it had leakedout half its load, and so again the pot apologizedto the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you not notice that there were flowersonly on your sideof the path, and not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantageof it. I planted flower seedson your side of the path, and every day while we've walked back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decoratemy master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beautyto gracehis house."

Each of us has flaws. We're all crackedpots. But if we will allow we will be able to use our flaws to grace Our Life. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interestingand rewarding.

You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.

There is a lot of good out there. There is a lot of good in you!

Don't be afraid of your flaws nor of the flaws in your friends.

Acknowledgethem, and you, too, can bring something beautifulto Our livesas well of those around us.Know that in our weaknesswe find our strength.

Every day we look in the mirror, we can wonder what flowerswe'll unknowinglybe wateringthat day. Always remember to appreciateall the differentpeople you come across in your life.In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste.