Crack Pots 破水桶的故事

一位挑水夫，有两个水桶，分别吊在扁担的两头，其中一个完好无缺，另一个则有裂缝。在每趟长途挑远之后，完好无缺的桶子，总是把满满的一桶水从溪边送到主人家，但是有裂缝的桶子因为漏水，往往从溪边里提起一桶，到了主人家却只剩下半桶。两年来，挑水夫就这样每天只挑一桶半的水到主人家，好桶子对自己能够送整桶水感到非常自傲，相反的，破桶子则对自己的缺陷羞愧不已。它为自己只能负起责任的一半感到难过。有一天，它忍不住对挑水夫说：“我很惭愧！我要向你道歉。”“为什么呢？”挑水夫不解的问：“什么事情让你觉得惭愧？"破桶子说："过去两年，我这破水桶一直漏水，每天只能给你送半桶水到主人家，我的缺陷，使你做了全部的工，却只能收到一半的成效。"挑水夫感到破桶子的难过，他充满爱心的说："我们回到主人家的路上，我要你留意路旁盛开的花朵。" 他们走在山坡上，破桶子眼前一亮，它看到缤纷的花朵，开满路的一旁，沐浴在温暖的阳光下，这景色使它开心很多！但是走到路的尽头，它又难过极了，因为一半的水又在路上漏掉了！破桶子再次向挑水夫道歉。挑水夫说："你有没有注意到小路两旁只有你来过的那一边有花，桶子的那一边却没有开花呢？"挑水夫温柔的对破桶子说："我明白你有缺陷，因此善加利用，在你那边的路旁散播了花种，我每回从溪边来，你就替我一路浇花！两年来，这些美丽的花朵装饰了主人的餐桌。如果你不是这个样子，主人的桌子也没有这么好看的花朵了。"

请问你是否有类似破桶子的悲伤，自卑的心情？你是否常常自怨自艾，为着自己的缺陷而感到沮丧？"上帝看着一切所造的都为美。" 我们每个人都没有任何理由需要自卑，除非我们先放弃自己。

                A water bearer in India had two large pots, each  hung on the ends of a pole 
which he carried across his 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 bearer delivering 
only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud 
of its accomplishments, perfect 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 yrs 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. 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 your 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 bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your 
side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known 
about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day 
while we walk back, you've watered 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? 

Moral: 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 they are, and look
 for the good in them. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of 
shape. Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life! 

Blessings to all my crackpot friends and family too!