Sunday's Call

A water bearer had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his 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 two years, this went on daily. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, but the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, the cracked pot spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. ‘I want to apologize to you. For these past two years I am able to deliver only half of my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house.
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 somewhat.
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 two 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.