Subject : CRACKED POT<br /> <br /> Just a thought to brighten your day! <br /> > > > <br /> An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends <br /> <br />of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a <br /> <br />crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full <br /> <br />portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to <br />the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. <br /><br /> 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 <br /> <br />proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed <br />of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do. After 2 years of what it perceived <br />to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. <br />> > > <br /> "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 <br /> <br />smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of <br />the path, <br />but not on the other pot's side?" "That's because I have always known <br /> <br />about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, <br /> 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 <br />table. <br /> > > Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house." <br /> > > > <br /> Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws <br /> <br />we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and <br /> rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them. <br />> > > <br /> SO, to all of my crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path! 
