The Story of Two Pots

聂守祥

不可否认，每个人都有缺点，但是如果我们能够认识到自己的缺点，并加以利用，就可以人尽其才，物尽其用，最终取得成功！

A water bearer① had two large pots， hung on either end of a pole that he carried across his neck. One pot had a hole in it， while the other was perfect and always full of water at the end of a long walk from the stream to the house; the cracked pot only arrived half-full. For two years the bearer had only been able to take one and a half pots of water to his house.

Of course， the perfect pot was proud of itself. The poor cracked pot was ashamed of itself. It spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream， “I am ashamed of myself， and I want to say sorry to you.”

“Why？” asked the bearer， “What are you ashamed of？”

“I have been able to take only half of my load

because this hole in my side causes water to leak② out all the way back to your house. Because of this， you have to do all the work， and you dont get full value from your efforts，” the pot said.

The water bearer said， “As we return to the house， I want you to notice all of the beautiful flowers along the path.”

Indeed， as they went up the hill， the cracked pot noticed the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path， and this cheered it a little. But at the end of the walk， the cracked pot still felt bad

because it had leaked out half of its load， and so again the pot said sorry to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot， “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path， but not on the other pots side？ Thats because I have always known about your flaw③， and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path， and every

day while we walked back from the stream， youve

watered them. For two years， I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to make my room beautiful. Without you being just the way what you are， I wouldnt have the beautiful flowers.”

Everyone has flaws. Were all cracked pots in some way. But if we allow ourselves to take advantage of our flaws， nothing goes to waste. Dont be afraid of your flaws. Get to know your flaws and you too can be successful.

一位挑水工有两只木桶，挂在肩上扁担的两头。一只水桶身上有个破洞，而另一只水桶完美无缺，从小溪挑到家里的水总是装得满满的;而那只破桶呢，到家時只剩下半桶水。在两年的时间里，挑水工只能挑着一桶半水回家。

不用说，那只好桶对自己的表现非常自豪。而那只破桶呢，却感到十分羞愧。有一天，他在小溪边对挑水工说：“我为自己感到羞愧，我想向你道歉。”

“为什么道歉呢？”挑水工问，“你为什么感到羞愧？”

“我一直只能装半桶水，因为我身上的漏洞使得水在你回家的路上漏出来，这样你的劳动就得不到应有的回报。”破桶说。

挑水工说，“回家的时候，请你注意看道路旁边的那些漂亮野花。”

当他们上山的时候，破桶真地注意看了那些野花，阳光温暖地照耀着它们，这使他的精神稍稍振作了一些。但快回到家的时候，破桶又感到难过了，因为他又漏掉了半桶水，他只好再一次为自己的过失向挑水工道歉。

挑水工对破桶说：“你注意到了吗，只有你所在的道路那侧才有花，而另一侧却没有。那是因为我早就了解你的缺点，并对它加以利用。我在你所在的道路那侧撒了些花种，每天当我们从溪边回来的时候，你都给它们浇

水。整整两年时间里，我都能采摘野花，装饰我的房间。要不是你现在这个样子，我就不会拥有这些漂亮的花了。”

每个人都有缺点。从某种程度上说，我们都是一只破桶。但是如果我们能够利用好自己的缺点，就能人尽其才，物尽其用。不要害怕有缺陷。认识自己的缺陷所在，你也会成功！