mudlark on fri 26 jan 01
My son just sent me this.
> THE CRACKED WATER POT
> >
> > 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 master's house. Because of my flaws,
> > you have to do all of this work, and you don't get
> > full value from your efforts," the pot said.
> >
> > The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked 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
> > 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
> > it 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 master's 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 they are,
> > and look for the good in them.
> > There is a lot of good out there.
> > There is a lot of good in us!
> > Blessed are the flexible,
> > for they shall not be bent 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 crackpots in
> > my life, it would have been pretty
> > boring and not so interesting...
> >
> > Thank you all my crackpot friends.
> >
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