I got this from a friend. I loved it and wanted to pass it on. I wish I knew who wrote it. It's such a shame the author isn't listed.

TWO POTS
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 portion of water.

At the end 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 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 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'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 own unique flaw.

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 crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the
flowers, on your side of the path.

That story never ceases to make me smile. Thanks for the reminder, Dotsie.

Oh Dotsie, that is wonderful. I am feeling the cracks today, so this really brightened my mood. Thanks.

Thanx, Dotsie...that was wonderful, and it made me realize a few things too!
thanx for sharing that, and brightening my day too!...Bless your heart.

Beautiful and a truer story was never told...

Lynn, I'm also feeling the cracks this week. That's probably why it spoke to me. It's that time of month... Let's learn to love the cracks!

I no longer have a good reason, like monthly cycles, to feel the cracks! So what's my excuse now? LLL

Some have to be the pot without the cracks while others must have the cracks. We all serve our purpose on this earth. Your cracks Lynn329 have watered many flowers along the paths and even some weeds. Someone must, why not us? I am happy just to be one of the pots, cracked or not.
I can't help but think of the clay that never gets the chance to be made into a pot, never given the chance to be useful to anyone, or needed and wanted by anyone.

[ August 05, 2005, 09:42 PM: Message edited by: chatty lady ]

Never heard this one before, I enjoyed it.
chick

I'd like to say it's truth that I'm a man.But I never have no common talking topics with women.I bet you didn't konw Jia Baoyu(a character in the novel "the dreams of the chamber")I would say I'm similar to him.
A flaw can't be avoided.But what's the correct attitude towards oneself's flaw.Maybe we can let it be.Or we must overcome it.But in the old fable of the Chinese.It told us the flaws can be made use of.But I think it hard for many people to know "leaking water from crack can water the flower" I think we should envisage them.Don't fear or be anxious.Sometimes Time is the most helpful.