An Old Chinese Story

 

An old Chinese lady is carrying two buckets that hang on both sides of a bamboo stick.

One of the buckets is cracked, whereby the other one is completely fine and strong.

At the end of the trip from the river to the house the cracked bucket is only able to carry half of the water. This happens every day for two years and the old Chinese lady only carries one and a half buckets instead of two full buckets of water.

The strong bucket is so proud of his contribution to the old lady.

The cracked bucket, however, feels very sad and ashamed as he is not capable of helping the old lady.

After two years of failure and struggling, the cracked bucket speaks with the old lady at the side of the river. “I am so ashamed of myself as due to my disability, half of the water that you carry is wasted along the way to your house.

The old lady smiles. “Do you realize that along your side of the path there are many beautiful flowers whereby there are none on the other side of the path?

This is because I always realized your weaknesses, therefore I threw flower seeds along your path. Everyday, whenever we walk home from the river, you have watered the seeds without your realizing.

And for the past two years, I am able to pluck the beautiful flowers and put them on the table.”If you were not as you are, I might not have such beautiful things in this house..

Everyone of us has weaknesses, but the weaknesses are what actually make our lives unique and interesting.

Lessons behind the story

1. We should accept anyone as s/he is, weaknesses and strengths. Look at the inner beauty and the good heart inside.

2. Each of us is unique to the world so don’t blame yourself if you are not as perfect as other people.

3. A small contribution that comes from a sincère heart and given at the best you can afford will always bring happiness to others whether you realize it or not.
 

Source : Unknown