Mindfulness Mondays 60: The Cracked Pot
July 19, 2010 by dr. lam
Marcy, who works with me, gave me this story. It is a great one. Enjoy!
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 walks 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 two years of what it perceived to be bitter
failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the
stream.
I’m 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.
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what a joy that was to read , thank you,
The cracked pot is a magnificent story that toughed me deeply. The story confirms and reminds me that God gives mankind every opportunity to overcome the cracks and flaws inherent in man. We have been given Divine value and purpose. Thank you!