Saturday, February 17, 2007

Cracked Pot

I was really tired tonight when I got home from my Janitors job, I thought I'd better get a little sleep before heading off to my Motor route. I've been having some pretty bad dreams, tonight was no different, it woke me out of a sound sleep before the alarm went off at 12:00 a.m. I haven't had time to blog today so I thought maybe blogging would help relax me before I left for work. As always your comments have brightened my day.

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 walk 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. "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 the "cracked pots" out there, have a great day and remember to sell the flowers on your side of the path!

4 comments:

Linda said...

Wonderful story. There is a tradition the Amish women practice in their quilting. They deliberately make one mistake in the quilt because there is noone perfect except Jesus. I know I'm a "cracked pot" and this little story encourages me. He can use me anyway. Thanks Lori.

Carole Burant said...

I loved this story and it really does make us realize that we don't need to strive for perfection, we will be accepted, flaws and all:-)

someone else said...

Really nice story and a good reminder to just be who we are, warts and all.

I'm glad you enjoyed the sunrise pictures in my other blog. They give me such pleasure taking them, and I'm glad when someone else appreciates them, too. I add to it frequently.

Lori said...

Linda, Pea and Morning Glory,

I am so thankful that God excepts us as we are. Trying for profection is a good goal but one we will never accomplish until we get to heaven.