For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer
Delivering only one-and-a-half pots full of water to his
master's 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 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 master's house.
Because of my flaws, you have to do all 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
compassion he said, "As we return to the master's 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 it 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 the 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 seeds on your side of the path,
and every day while we walked 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. Without you being just the way you are,
he would not have had this beauty to grace his house."

Moral: Each of us has his or her own unique flaws.
We're all cracked pots. 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 he
or she is, and look for the good in them. There is a lot of good
out there. There is a lot of good in us!

Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life!
Or, as I like to think of it -- if it hadn't been for the crackpots
in my life, it would have been pretty boring and not so interesting.

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