Wednesday, April 8, 2009

ASPIRE TO 'INSPIRE' BEFORE YOU 'EXPIRE'


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 walks 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 two 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 a lways 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 being just the way you are, there would not be this 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!

4 comments:

  1. that was soooo cool! :)


    have a great day!

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  2. Very nice post! I have been trying to overlook my friends flaws. I have realized that I would have no friends if I couldn't overlook the flaws.

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  3. That was nice, KK. Your rusty bucket picture is nice too. That bucket pretty well has expired.
    We all have cracks and flaws, goodness knows mine would make the pot unsellable!
    I was talking with my son this afternoon. His daughter, our granddaughter will be 21 tomorrow. We were talking about being 21 (and cracks and flaws), him, Jenna, and me. Do you remember when you became 21?
    ..

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  4. Yes Jim, I remember turning 21. Seems so long ago. I remember asking myself then, "how do I want my life to be remembered?" I was always so sad because of Jenny. I lost her, my grandmother and my aunt with a 3 year period (18-21 years old)I felt that every one that I truely loved, was taken away from me. I thought I was not meant to be happy or loved. I thought I was such a rusty, worthless bucket, like the one I took this picture of in my uncles garden, that no one would ever look twice at me. So much has changed and I am glad I am the age I am today. It says that I am strong and I can make it through any thing. As long as God is at my side, I am not scared. So...Bring it on world. I am so ready for you! And say Happy Birthday to Jenna. She has a big world ahead of her.
    God Bless.

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