A water bearer in India 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.