Finding the Good in Flaws
Sometimes when there's a really good story, it's hard to find the exact origin. The story of the Cracked Bucket is one of those stories. I've heard it told with a farmer from China, a worker from India, as a man, as a woman, and more. The key part of the story is that this main character transports water from the water source (well/river/lake) to the desired location (fields/house) using a pole across the shoulders with one bucket on each side. One of the buckets is cracked and leaks water as it is transported, such that by the end of the trip it is only half full while the other side remains entirely full.
In most versions of the story, the cracked bucket speaks to the main character and sighs or apologizes over the poor job the bucket is doing of bringing water back to the desired location. However, the main character points out to the bucket to take a look at the side of the road where the cracked bucket hung. All along that side there are beautiful, thriving plants. The main character explains that knowing of the bucket's leak, this character turned what seemed to be a flaw into a benefit by planting seeds along the cracked bucket's side of the road and allowing the bucket to water the seeds with each trip.
It is a remarkable thing to have those around us see us for who we really are and help us find ways to turn even our imperfections into something that can help us or others thrive. It's a blessing to do that for others and for ourselves.
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