An elderly woman carried two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole across her neck. One pot had a crack, while the other was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. However, at the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For two full years, this continued, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water each day. The perfect pot took pride in its accomplishments, while the cracked pot felt ashamed of its imperfection, miserable that it could only fulfill half of its intended purpose.
After perceiving two years of bitter failure, the cracked pot finally spoke up one day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself because this crack in my side causes water to leak all the way back to your house.”
The old woman smiled and responded, “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. Every day as 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 our house.”
Moral of the Story:
Each of us carries our own unique flaw. However, it is these cracks and imperfections that make our lives together so intriguing and rewarding. We must learn to accept each person for who they are and seek out the goodness within them. In embracing our imperfections, we discover the true beauty that lies within us all.
