An elderly African woman had two, large clay pots. Each hung on the ends of a wooden beam which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. Each day she walked the same path and when she reached the house, the cracked pot would be half empty.
The poor cracked pot was ashamed of its flaw, and unhappy it could only do half of what it had been made to do. One day, it said to the woman, "Why do you bother carrying me?, I have a crack and I leak. You are really wasting your time and energy on me."
The woman smiled and said to the cracked pot, "Tomorrow, I will use you again and collect water and as we make our way back up from the stream, I want you to look on both sides of the road." The cracked pot did that and was astonished to see that on one side of the road there were beautiful flowers.
The woman said to the cracked pot, "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 the last couple of 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 my house."
Every human being has unique imperfections. It is our perceived cracks and flaws that make our lives and interactions worthwhile. They give unlimited opportunities to learn. You can evolve to accept people as they are. Consciously choose to see the good.
Thus, if you are carrying a full clay pot of water, do so with pride. If you are a pot with a crack, carry what you can and enrich the world in your own special way. Do not give up. You always have something to give. You may simply overlook it or forget what matters.
This old folk tale reminded me of the intrinsic value of people I know and have known. I think especially of loved ones who have suffered illness and mood swings which make it seem like they are not themselves. Life experience teaches me to see through the fog. Love everyone as they are, even yourself. The quickest way to receive love is to give.