A water bearer in India had two large pots, hung on each end of a pole, which he carried across his

neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and 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 masters house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made.

Un aguatero de la India tena dos grandes vasijas colgadas una a cada extremo de un palo que cargaba sobre el cuello. Pero resulta que una de ellas tena una rajadura. Aunque la otra estaba en perfecto estado y siempre entregaba su contenido total de agua al final de la larga caminata desde el arroyo hasta la casa de su amo, la vasija rajada apenas llegaba llena hasta la mitad. Cuente entonces la leyenda que la vasija perfecta se ufanaba de sus logros, pues acometa ptimamente el propsito para el que haba sido creada.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. Why? asked the bearer. What are you ashamed of? I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your masters house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you dont get full value from your efforts, the pot said. The water bearer felt sorry for the cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, As we return to the masters house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.

En cambio la pobre vasija rajada se avergonzaba de su imperfeccin y se senta desdichada de solo poder cumplir con la mitad de la tarea para la que haba sido concebida. Al cabo de dos aos de lo que a juicio de ella era un fracaso rotundo, un da le habl al aguatero junto al arroyo. Estoy avergonzada y quiero pedirte disculpas. Por qu? pregunt el aguatero. De qu te avergenzas? Durante los ltimos dos aos solo he podido entregar la mitad de mi capacidad a causa de esta rajadura que tengo en el costado por la que se va perdiendo el agua camino de vuelta a la casa del maestro. Por culpa de mis defectos tienes que trabajar arduamente y tus esfuerzos no te rinden a plenitud dijo la vasija. Al aguatero le dio pena la vasija rajada. Movido a compasin le dijo: Camino de regreso a la casa del amo quiero que tomes nota de las hermosas flores que alinean el sendero.

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized 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 aw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, youve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my masters table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.

En efecto, al subir la colina, la vieja y defectuosa vasija advirti las hermosas flores silvestres asolendose a la vera del camino, por lo cual se alegr un poco. Sin embargo, al final del periplo, todava se senta mal por haber perdido la mitad de su capacidad, as que volvi a disculparse con el aguatero por su ineficacia.

ste le dijo: Te fijaste que tu lado del camino estaba adornado con flores y el de la otra vasija no? El motivo es que siempre supe de tu defecto. Aprovech para sembrar semillas de flores de tu lado del camino, las cuales t regabas todos los das cuando regresbamos del arroyo. Durante dos aos he podido cortar esas hermosas flores para decorar la mesa de mi amo. Si no fueras exactamente como eres, no habra podido contar con esa belleza para agraciar su casa.

Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You dont have to have a college degree to serve. You dont have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Todos podemos ser importantes, pues todos tenemos la capacidad de servir. No es necesario un ttulo universitario para prestar servicio al prjimo. No es preciso tener un excelente dominio de la gramtica. Basta con un corazn lleno de la gracia, con un alma impulsada por el amor. Martin Luther King Jr.

Water bearer aguatero Pots vasijas Crack rajadura Perfect perfecto Full portion contenido total Master amo Stream arroyo

Half mitad Ashamed avergonzaba Imperfection imperfeccin Flaw defectos Flowers flores Path/trail sendero/camino Seeds semillas Watered regabas

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Story and art TFI