Two Pots...

I received this inspirational story from my pal Merry. It has
been circulating for awhile, but hopefully will be new to you.
I searched for its author and could not find one. I hope you
enjoy its message...


TWO POTS

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung
on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.
One of the 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 woman
bringing home only one and a half pots of water.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.
But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection,
and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been
made to do.

After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure,
it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side
causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."

The old woman smiled, "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, and every day
while 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 the house."

Each of us has our own unique flaw. 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.

- Author Unknown