The Cracked Pot's
Story
Submitted by Neil Savage Swift Water
Girl Scout Council,
E-K-N Service Unit Exeter, New Hampshire
USA
Neilsavage@
aol.com
Scouting
Compilations by Neil Savage
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 masters 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 masters house. Of course, the perfect
pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was
made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and
miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been
made to do. 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. "What are you
ashamed of?" "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 masters 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, and in his
compassion he said, "As we return to the masters house, I want you to notice
the beautiful flowers along the path." 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 some. But at the end of the
trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so
again the Pot apologized to the bearer for its failure. 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 pots 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 masters table. Without you being just the way you
are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house." Each of us has
our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we will allow it,
the Creator will use our flaws to grace the Universe. In the Creator's
great economy, nothing goes to waste. Don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge
them, and you too can be the cause of beauty. Know that in our weakness
we find our strength.
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