The Cracked Pot
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of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of these pots had a crack in it, 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 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 of water to the house. . Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfections, 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 want to apologize to you. I have been able to only deliver half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts, " the pot said. . The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there are flowers only on your side of the path, but not the other pot's side?" That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house." .................................................. The moral of the story? . 
Each of us has our own 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. 
Remember to appreciate the diversity in your life and your workplace. And mostly remember, in the end we are just cracked pots! |