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 we would have no 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.


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