A water bearer had two large pots, each hung on opposite ends of a pole that he carried across his shoulders. One of the pots had a crack in it. The other pot was perfect. The perfect pot 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.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its performance of the job for which it had been made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer.

"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."

"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"

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

The water bearer smiled. "As we return to our master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Puzzled, the old cracked pot did as the water bearer had requested and took notice of the beautiful sun-warmed wild flowers along the side of the path. The cracked pot was somewhat cheered by the beautiful sight. But at the end of the trail, it had leaked half its contents; and so again it apologized to the water bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of our path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your imperfection, 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 years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate our master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

And just think, we're all cracked pots, each with our own unique imperfections.