Turn our Weakness into Our strengths

A water bearer had two large pots, each hung on each end of
a pole which he carried across his neck. One of these pots
had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and
always delivered a full portion of water at the end of a
long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked
pot only arrived half-full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer only
delivering one and a half pots full of water to his house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments,
perfect to the end for which it was made. The poor cracked
pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that
it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made
to do.

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

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only
half of my load because this crack in my side causes water
to leak out all the way back to your house. Because of my
flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get
full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in
his compassion he said, "As we return to the house, I want
you to notice all of the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took
notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the
side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end
of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out
half of its load, and so again the pot apologized to the
bearer for its failure.

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 took advantage of it. 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 table.
Without you being just the way you are, I would not have
this beauty to grace my house.

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots
in some respect. But if we allow ourselves to take advantage
of our flaws, nothing goes to waste. Don't be afraid of your
flaws. Acknowledge them, and you too can be the cause of
beauty. Know that in our weaknesses we find our strengths.