Cracked Pot

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 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 the 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, 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.