The Story Of The Cracked Pot
(Anonymous)
Once there was an old woman who hauled two ceramic pots on either end of a pole which she balanced across her neck. One of the pots was perfect and carried a full portion of water. The other pot had a crack and after the long walk from the stream, it would only be half full.
For 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 created to do.
After years of what it had considered 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 woman smiled, “Did you notice the beautiful flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other 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 years I have been able to enjoy their beauty and fragrance thanks to you being the way you are.”
Remember, we’re all cracked pots and need to celebrate being unique. Our flaws are what make us so special.