TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR FLAW(S)

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each
end of a pole which he carried across hls 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 2 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 2 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 tile 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 2 years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers
to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way
you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked
pots.

Some of us don't grow old gracefully, some are not so smart,
some are tall, large & big, some bald, some physically challenged,
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. There is a lot of good out there. There is
a lot of good in you.

Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.
Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life!
Or as I like to think of it - If it's not for the crackpots in my
life, it would be pretty boring.

"So how do you love yourself? First of all and most important:
Cease all criticism of yourself and others. Accept yourself as
you are. When you approve of yourself, your changes become
positive. Everyone in your world is a reflection of your beliefs.

Don't blame others; change your beliefs. Be gentle, kind and
patient with yourself. Praise yourself as much as you can."

"The man is happy, we say, who knows no good that would be
greater than that which he can give to himself".

Good day.......