The two pots

Many of us would rather spend the Holy Week to relax and get away from the rat race that we are all part of in our work, business, and studies.

This weekend, many would probably prefer to stay at the beaches and frolic under the sun or enjoy the parties up north rather than do the traditional Lenten activities that people from my generation and those ahead of us had done in the past.

I have always spent the Holy Week in the hometown of Minglanilla and have tried my best to join the Good Friday procession.

I missed it a few times only and hope to do the same this year with my children in tow, which could also mean having to carry my soon-to-be four-year-old daughter for most of the route.

More than a time for reflection, I believe this is also a good time to bond with members of the family, which sometimes we forget to do due to our very busy schedules.

Let me share this little story with you, which I believe would be a good reading for this season.

It's again one of the many anecdotes I receive via e-mail.

It is the story of the two pots. Here it goes:

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole, which she carried across her neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it 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 house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."

The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?

"That's because 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 two 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 the house."

Each of us has our own unique flaw.

But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.

You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

So, to all of my crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path.

Sometimes we dwell too much on our failures and forget what good we have done just like the cracked pot. Count your blessings and thank the Lord for them.

They may not be what you are asking for, but the Lord knows best.

Have a safe and solemn celebration of the Holy Week!