Table with Moral - The Pot with a Crack

An elderly water bearer had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection as it was able to accomplish only half of what it was made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day. "I am ashamed of myself and I want to apologize to you."

"Why?" asked the bearer.

"I have been able 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 don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot and said with compassion, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." As they went up the hill, the cracked pot observed the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path feeling a bit happy. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load and hence, again apologized to the bearer.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw and I used it to my advantage. 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- Limitations should not dishearten you from persevering!