My Weight Watchers leader told this tale in the meeting yesterday. Some of you may have heard it before, at least, it seemed familiar to me. But, it’s a good analogy and something we should all think about when judging ourselves.
Everyday, a woman walked to the spring to gather water for her household. She carried one pot on each end of stick that she wore across her shoulders. One of the pots had a small crack in the side, so everyday when she got back to the house, she had only one and a half pots of water left.
After 20 years of this, finally the cracked pot said to her, “Madame, I have failed you all these years. I have not done my job in carrying water for you and your family.” She replied to the pot, “Look along your side of the path. I have planted seeds along your side and all these years, as we have walked back, you have watered them and helped them grow into beautiful flowers. It is your flaw that makes you who you are and gives you strength.”
We all have cracks. They make us who we are. If I had not been through the painful things that I have been through in my life, I would not have the strength to be who I am today. The strength that I have today, will help me through the difficult times of tomorrow and then those troubled times will make me stronger still. So I look at my cracks and I appreciate them for what they are. I try to learn from them so that I may make the most out of them. I am flawed, yes, but my flaws make me who I am.
For another version of this parable, check out this link.
I love this story. If it weren’t for flaws, I wouldn’t have a personality.
And, despite my teasing about the computer and the phone, I love you, cracks and all. Hey, it’s the cracks that make the pot interesting, isn’t it?
I’m very cracked….so that kind of an inspiration to me too.
Why did the pot wait 20 years to say anything? And if a pot can talk, isn’t that the bigger story? Am I the only one who wonders about these things?
One of my favourtie stories. It is the flaws that make us human.
Oh nice sweetie. Wow. I must have an orchard next to me LOLOL… :caffienated:
I had never heard this before. What a beautiful parable!
Megan–It sure is. If we didn’t all have different cracks, we would all be the same.
MDer–Funny when you say you are cracked, but I am glad that it is inspirational to you. We are all cracked pots.
Mr. Fab–No, of course you aren’t the only one who thinks these things. It’s just that most of us look beyond to see the meaning behind the talking cracked pot.
Nicola–Absolutely. I love this parable, too.
KD–No way. I don’t believe that you have that many flaws. If so, you use them well.
Mysterious Lady–It is isn’t it. I have often seen it used to show our relationship with God.
I’ve heard that before and I liked it.
Glad to hear the new job is going well.
I drop in on your site from time to time to catch up. You’re not one of my daily reads (Don’t hate me!) Just wanted to let you know that I can’t seem to go back in the archives more than a week. i.e. I wanted to go back further in August to catch up from the last time I was here and I couldn’t get back past the IPOD post. :nervous: Just wanted to let you know. :embarrassed:
Flaws are the most interesting characteristics that we have.
BlogMad hit! More water!
Hey Mad Dog, haven’t I been telling you for years that you’re a crack pot? Sheesh, you’re a slow learner. Are you playing volleyball this fall? Congrats on the new job. You’re an ace!
This is very sweet. I hadn’t heard it in a while.
It’s always good to be reminded of these lessons.
I love this! :cry: It’s so true.