An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on
the ends of a 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 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 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 2 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 crackpot friends, have a great day and
remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!
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