Timakia@AOL.COM on tue 5 dec 00
>
>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 the long walk from the
>stream to the master*s 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 full of water in his master*s house. Of
>course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect
>to the end 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 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 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 masters house.
>Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't
>get full value from your efforts" said the pot.
>
>The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his
>compassion he said, "As we return to the masters 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 this cheered it
>some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had
>leaked out half its load, and so again the Pot apologized 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 pot's 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 these 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."
> Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots.
>Don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and you too can
>be the cause of beauty. Know that in our weakness we find our
>strength.
Antoinette Badenhorst
PO Box 552
Saltillo,MS
38866
http://hometown.aol.com/timakia
| |
|
