[slobin]

I wanted to share this story. I just saw a thread titled "I feel like a loser" and it made me want to share this to emphasize that regardless of IF, we all have special gifts to offer the world.
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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 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 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 2 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 th ere are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?" "That's because I have always 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. 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.

[einstein]

Slobin,

That is a great story! I love it! Really, the Chinese have some beautiful folk tales that spread such great morals. Thank you for sharing a really rewarding tale with us.

[AveryL]

I Love It!!!!!

That is a wonderful story