An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots; each hung on the ends of a pole she carried across her neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered
an entire portion of water.
At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For 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 imperfection and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived as a 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 back into 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 unique flaws. But our cracks and defects 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.