Nobody
is perfect in this imperfect world.
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.
This made the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments,. But the poor
cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, 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? "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, but he simply said, ‘You
just notice the flower beds on our way back. 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 Then 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. You have helped him doubly ! you gave him water and you
beautified his house with lovely flower.
