Monday 6 October 2008

Monday Morning Inspiration # 48


A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and 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 master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But 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 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 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 master's house, I want you to notice 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 its load, and so again it 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 your 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 master's table. Without your being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.

The Moral of this Story: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. 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 s/he is, and look for the good in them.

There is a lot of good out there.

To read other Monday morning inspirations click here.

Source: Internet

18 comments:

Arv said...

how so true... good message...

cheers mate...

Anonymous said...

Good one....Keep writing.

Shalini Gowrisankar said...

@arv

Thank you so much! :)

Shalini Gowrisankar said...

@jarlin

Thank you and great to see you at my blog space. Will visit yours soon :)Stay in touch!

Vasanthan said...

this is a good one. my mother should read this, i will mail this link to her.
she always says my arguments doesn't hold water, now she will know why.

Shalini Gowrisankar said...

@vasanthan

lol.. Sure :)

Manivannan Sadasivam said...

Beautiful story. I read some of your Monday Morning Inspiration (I liked the heading) Stories. All are really inspiring.

Shionge said...

So sweet it sure motivates all of us :D

Shalini Gowrisankar said...

@incorrectmystic

Thank you so much! lad to see you at my blog space, will visit yours soon . Stay in touch! :)

Shalini Gowrisankar said...

@Shionge

Glad to know you liked it :)

Raghavan alias Saravanan M said...

so touchy and true of course! everyone is a blended mixture and we can make the *best use* of it!

Shalini Gowrisankar said...

@Raghavan

Its always the diversity that adds spice to one's life :)

ShantanuDas said...

wah wah! I say! Shalini... I am thinking of buying you a Banyan Tree so that you can sit below it and tell your stories!!

:-)) You are really great!!

Shalini Gowrisankar said...

@Shantanu das

That was so sweet of you :) Thank you so much!

ShantanuDas said...

AWW!! Not me! It is you who are sweeeeeeeeeeeet!! Very sweet!!
I am lucky to know you!

Shalini Gowrisankar said...

@shantanu Das

I feel honored :) Thanks so much :)

ShantanuDas said...

You are welcome.. Shalini.
I think though you understood the significance of what I said some of your readers may not have. So I will explain the context of the Banyan Tree. I have a young friend (of your age) who is somewhat like you in this matter- he keeps advising me on the serious aspects of life... I had told him too that I will gift him a Banyan Tree... you see those ancient banyan trees? with aerial roots touching the ground - thick like trunks themselves- you may have seen in some movies-- the tree is in the centre of a village and an old sage sits under it.. with all beard and long hair.. grey with wisdom-- the whole village comes to him- sits under the shade and listens to the sage -- his words of wisdom... he is the village monk.. people look up to him for advice and godly wisdom.. In that context I thought this blog of yours is like a virtual Banyan tree under which you are sitting and we readers are surrounding you to catch those pearls that drop from your mouth....

It is really something to have so much wisdom at such a young age, the age at which other people probably will know only how to go to the disc or MTV or speak in half cracked american english - "Yo!" .. ..

I really feel with all my heart that you are a good person.. God Bless you.

Shalini Gowrisankar said...

@Shantanu das

You really make my day with those wonderful comments :) Thank you so very much. I really feel gifted to have readers like you :)