The first time I read this story, I was in tears. The story taught me to appreciate myself and led me out from a shadow. I learned to recognize my strength and gained self-confidence. As a result, I was happy to live with my imperfections.
Reading this story again and again, I also learned to appreciate other people's differences. We all have our weaknesses. We should not be discouraged about people who are not perfect. Their strengths should be our focus. We can let people shine with their strengths. We can try to minimize negative impact from their weaknesses. Good use of imperfections may produce perfect results.
Adding everyone's characters together, we see a colorful world. This brings challenges and excitements to our life. Remember: always appreciate ourselves, as well as people around us.
Here is the story:
The Cracked Pot
An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends
of a pole, which she carried across her shoulder.
One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect
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
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
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
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
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke
to the woman one day by the stream.
"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
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
"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
"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
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 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
You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for
the good in them.
Remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!
"Love is not about who you live with, it is about who you can not live without."
"Where there is Love, there are miracles."
