However, the other day my daughter sent one that I found particularly touching. She called me a cracked pot and I was honored. The following is the parable the "crack pot" email held. If you've already seen it, I think it's worth repeating. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
An elderly woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she balanced across her shoulders. One of the pots contained a crack 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 her house, the cracked pot only arrived half full. For two full years, the woman fetched water daily, bringing home only one and a half pots of water.
Of course, the perfect pot swelled with pride, boasting of its perfect performance. The poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been intended to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, one day by the stream, it spoke to the woman. "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 there are flowers on your side of the path, but nothing grows on the other pot's side? That's because I've always known about your flaw. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years, I've been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my simple table. Without you being just the way you are, there would be no beauty to grace my house."
Then the email explained the obvious moral of the story: Each of us has our own unique flaws. But it's the cracks and flaws that makes our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. Accept each person for what they are and look for the good to be found within them.
So, I'm proud to be a cracked pot creating a path of beauty in this world. How about you?
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Beautiful and so very true. I shutter to think what the world would be like if everyone was perfect. We won't need each other.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
AJ
Well said, Autumn! Thank you for stopping by.
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Very nice story. There is room for all of us, cracks or whole.
ReplyDeleteOh, trust me, you are SO definitely a cracked pot, my old friend! (and I sincerely hope you always WILL be!)
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Thank you, Anita. Wouldn't it be dull world if we were all perfect? :)
ReplyDeleteAnd you as well, my dear friend, Michael! May we become even more "crazed" with lovely imperfections as we age.
ReplyDelete"Every hard head has a crack in it somewhere, like a safety valve, as it were, for the steam." - Balzac
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely little story, Maeve! I enjoyed it and now feel better about myself and the members of my extended family :-)
I love that quote, Pat! And trust me, it's VERY fitting with my family. *ahem*
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Aw! What a great story and how sweet that your daughter called you the cracked pot. I know a flower pops up in my day every time you come 'drip' by my blog and leave a comment. Today, I'm going to stop trying to hold all my water in...er, you know what I mean. :}
ReplyDeleteI love this story! Thanks for sharing it. I'll have to pass it on to my daughters.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your kind words, Amber! I appreciate you stopping by. And Penny, I'm glad you enjoyed the story. It brightened my day too. :-D
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Maeve. Thank you for sharing that. Touched my heart and made me smile. Here's to all us cracked pots. <3
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed it, Joanne. Thanks so much for stopping by. :-)
ReplyDeleteAs usual, I came late to the party but I wanted to tell you what a sweet story this is. I was so touched, Maeve. You have a beautiful soul. Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDelete~Donna
Awww...thank you, Donna. Your words mean a lot. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Maeve. I've heard the story a few times, but you're right. It bears repeating. Sometimes you never tire of hearing the same things over and over.
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