Cracked Water Pots

Cracked Water Pots: A Water Bearer in India had two large pots; each hung on each end of a pole, which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of a long walk from the stream to the Master’s house, the cracked water pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the Bearer delivering only one and half pots full of water in his masters house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for it was made. The cracked water pot was ashamed of it’s own imperfection, and miserable that it was unable to accomplish only half of what it was 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 apologise 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 this work, and you don’t get full value for your efforts, “the pot said ”.

The Water Bearer felt sorry for the old cracked water 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 water pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered him some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it leaked out its load, and so again it apologised to the Bearer for its failure. The Bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pots side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick those beautiful flowers to decorate my Masters table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his 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’ve just got to take each person for what he or she is, and look for the good in them. There is a lot of good out there; there is a lot of good in us! Blessed is the flexible, for they shall not bend out of shape.

Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life! Or as I like to think of it – if it hadn’t been for the cracked pots in my life, it would have been pretty boring and not so interesting.

Cracked Water Pots