for we all have flaws ...

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 of portion of water.

at the 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 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failures, 

it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.

"i'm 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 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 flaws ...

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.


to all of my cracked-pot friends,

when today you've found your other half,

remember to take each other's flaws,

turn them into incredibly beautiful flowers

bring them back at home,

decorate your life,

embrace everyday, be thankful ...

and remember to always smell the flowers,

on your side of the path....