A water bearer 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 master’s 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 master’s house. 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 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
master’s 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 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 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 pot’s 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 master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not
have this beauty to grace his house.”
MORAL:
Do not underestimate yourself by comparing yourself with others. It’s our
differences that make us unique & Beautiful.