There once was an old man. Every day he used to go to the spring outside of his
village to get fresh clean water. For that he used two jars, which he put across his
donkey’s back, one on each side. One jar was old and cracked, and on the way
back to the village water would always leak out of it. The other jar was new
without cracks, so the old man did not lose any water from it.
The old jar felt useless. The new jar would not miss a chance to tease it and point
out the deformities of the old jar, “Unlike you, I do not lose any single drop of
water.”
One morning, the old jar spoke to the old man, “I know about my disadvantages.
Because of me you are losing your time and effort. When you reach the village, I
am half-empty. Forgive me my defects and flaws.”
Next day during their travel, the old man spoke to the old jar, “Look at the side of
the road. Do you see this beauty and bounty of flowers? They are blooming
because of you. I bought seeds and planted them along this road, but it is you,
who unknowingly watered them every day.”