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.
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.
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"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.
SO, to all of my cracked pot bloggy-friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!
And say a prayer for all of your "Cracked Pot" friends - we need each other's encouragement and companionship to make it through the ups and downs of mommy-hood!
God Bless!
Heather :-)
Thanks, Heather...! Great way of putting it...glad you shared. Have a wonderful week! : )
ReplyDeleteI wish I knew the source of this story so that I could give credit, but it's one of those stories that has been around so long nobody knows where it came from.
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
I'm a crack pot. Or is it cracked pot?
ReplyDeleteThe flowers are our children, right?
(because there are no flowers in this state!)
Thanks for the story, I'd forgotten that one....
You're funny!
DeleteI actually read this again last night thinking how I need to accept the personalities of each of my children and help them flourish. Look for their good traits and accentuate that instead of jumping on them about their short-comings.
Have a beautiful day - and enjoy your flowers!
Thanks for sharing this simple story! I was just thinking yesterday as we drove to your house that I should change the name of my blog. I kept thinking...."It's so long, not catchy, doesn't sound professional, etc.". But now I realize I have just what God inspired to give me a reminder every time I open our blog page. We had a great time last night....thanks for your support, love, and encouragement.
ReplyDeleteWe are all so truly blessed to have each other!
Love you!
Don't you dare change the name of your blog. Remember that it is there for you and your family and NOT to be catchy or professional. It is a collection of memories and thoughts from you and your family. It's perfect just the way it is.
DeleteThanks for listening to me rant last night...you're such a blessing to me!
This is wonderful... thank you for sharing. :) Especially needed on a Monday morning!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I sent you an email and wanted to be sure that you received it. So if you haven't... please let me know. :)
Glad that it helped your Monday morning!
DeleteI'll be sending you an e-mail later on today...sorry it's been late in coming.
Ah, yes! Sometimes I think I'm the crack pot...or at least my kids think I am on some days :)
ReplyDeleteLove this, Heather! I am definitely a cracked pot so thank you for bringing a little cheer:) Blessings to you for a fruitful and blessed Lent!
ReplyDelete