The Cracked Pot Story

Long ago, in India, a water bearer had two large pots. Each pot hung on each end of the pole, which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack inside it, while the other was perfect. The bearer always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house. This time, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

This process went on daily for two years, i.e., the water bearer delivered only one and a half pots full of water to his master’s house. Though the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection and miserable that it could not accomplish full water pot like it used to do earlier.

After two years, one day, the cracked pot perceiving a bitter failure, spoke to the water bearer while heading from the stream. It said, “I am ashamed of myself. I want to apologize to you.” The bearer asked why and what was the reason for being ashamed.

The cracked pot replied that it could deliver only half its load for the last two years due to the crack. The inside crack causes water to leak out all the way before reaching the master’s house. Because of this, the water bearer does not get full value for his efforts.

The water bearer felt sorry for the cracked pot and said in his compassion, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the way.”

As they climbed up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the sideway, which somewhat cheered it. But at the end of the trial, 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 asked 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 is because I have always known about your flaw and took advantage of it.

I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and you watered them every day while we walked back from the stream. For two years, I have been picking these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. He would not have this beauty to grace his house without you being just the way you are.”

Moral of The Cracked Pot Story

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We are all cracked pots. Nothing goes to waste in this world. You may think the same as the cracked pot, that you are inefficient or useless in certain areas of your life, but somehow these flaws could be a blessing in disguise. So, never get discouraged.