A water bearer in India 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, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end 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 two years 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”. The bearer asked, “Why? What are you ashamed of?” The Pot replied, “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. Because of my flaws, you don’t get full value for your efforts”.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion, he said, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.” 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. But at the end of the trail, 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 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 beauty to grace his house.”
Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We’re all cracked pots. In this world, nothing goes to waste. You may think like the cracked pot that you are inefficient or useless in certain areas of your life, but somehow these flaws can turn out to be a blessing in disguise.”
July 7, 2010 at 10:51 am
really the best ones….. so encouraging….. i too have flaws…!!!!
March 2, 2012 at 6:16 am
Nice one.. Everyone must understand this for better life
May 18, 2012 at 5:58 am
NICE
July 17, 2012 at 2:26 pm
It gave me a new inspiration
January 11, 2013 at 7:43 pm
exellent and inspiring story…….to all people and pupil
January 25, 2013 at 2:13 am
It is a nice story to do creative things in our life i like this story very much
October 13, 2013 at 11:22 am
Great !! :)
November 12, 2013 at 9:19 pm
A wonderful story , can’t wait to share with my children………Awesome.
December 26, 2013 at 3:45 am
thanks for this beautiful story.
March 13, 2014 at 8:52 am
This story has been a life changing experience to me and in fact I heard this story when I was young thru my younger sister Shanti and I had tears of joy than and continues to have even now whenever I read it. So, we know our bearer takes care of us no matter how cracked we are. I thank you Jesus
April 21, 2014 at 3:38 pm
Can you please tell me the source of this fable?
June 9, 2015 at 8:18 am
Very nice story! I want to meet you.
June 17, 2015 at 5:50 am
Too good and positive,,inspirational………………….great story
July 27, 2015 at 4:30 am
very beautiful i think we should have a party
July 30, 2015 at 6:59 pm
Nice :-D and awEsome story :-)
October 3, 2015 at 5:59 am
Thanks for sharing this story. It’s awesome :-)
October 8, 2015 at 1:32 pm
Dear, Milan.
So nice story which can inspire the people, that ,.. they can think their capability for the good purposes…
Thanks…
November 17, 2015 at 3:04 am
Its happened in all life’s
February 2, 2016 at 8:22 pm
your stories are so inspiring.. I enjoyed reading each one of it. superb job! thanks a million for sharing
March 6, 2016 at 11:52 pm
mind blowing story sir
April 1, 2016 at 3:08 am
It is a very nice story
July 16, 2016 at 8:22 pm
I read this story on a teacher’s classroom wall many years back.
Very pleasing to see it again. Heartwarming story!!
July 21, 2016 at 10:14 am
Filled my heart with compassion and sympathy for the cracked pot…. 143 CRACKED POT
July 22, 2016 at 6:09 am
very nice n motivational story it is
December 7, 2016 at 12:07 am
very inspirational story. it resembles the situation of all living creature, god made us very special, if we are bad at something then this becomes a boon for other.
April 22, 2017 at 2:01 am
good story
September 24, 2017 at 2:32 am
awesome story
October 11, 2017 at 7:31 am
It’s a motivational story.😉
September 12, 2018 at 8:01 am
Thanks a lot for this inspirational. It will help me in the use illustrations in teaching Bible lessons
December 21, 2018 at 11:17 am
I love this story. It is so true, often …we see others and how good they are at this or that and we just don’t measure up. We aren’t good enough but God created us all different and he uses our flaws and all and can turn them into something good. This story hit my heart its so sweet and so true!
May 28, 2019 at 8:09 am
What an inspiration
February 26, 2020 at 6:25 pm
Years ago, an addicted patient of mine brought in a copy of this story to read. I was in tears, and so very grateful he brought it to me. He is now in solid, active Recovery!
August 19, 2020 at 9:24 am
Question 1.
If you were the broken pot what would you have thought of yourself
Question 2. if you were the perfect , what how would you have with respond to the broken pot?
Question 3. If you were the water bearer would you have looked for the value in the broken pot?
December 24, 2020 at 7:45 am
wow nice story