Special offer

A Parable About Being Thankful

By
Mortgage and Lending

The following story was sent to me by accident by someone who really meant to send it to someone else.  Or was it something that was actually intended for me?  I'm not religious by nature, but I do believe that things happen for a reason.  Hope this was intended for you, too!

 

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat.

Drawing of of boy sitting on building steps and man thinking

 

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words. Soon the hat began to fill up.

Drawing of man changing sign in front of boy sitting on  building steps

A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?"

The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way." I wrote: "Today is a beautiful day but I cannot see it." Both signs told people that the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people that they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?

Drawing of smiling man explaining what he changed on the sign

Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have!

Be creative.  Be innovative.  Think differently and positively.  When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile. Face your past without regret.   Handle your present with confidence.  Prepare for the future without fear.  Keep the faith and drop the worry. 

It is a beautiful thing to see a person smiling.  And even more beautiful, knowing that you are the reason behind it!!!  Catch yourself when you start complaining about what you don't have.  Enjoy your day with a heart of gratitude.

Posted by

Follow Me on TwitterFollow Me on FacebookLets get LinkedinMy Outside Blog

Pat Champion
John Roberts Realty - Eustis, FL
Call the "CHAMPION" for all your real estate needs

What a great post and how true we should all be thankful for what we have and not keep seeking more and more.

Apr 16, 2010 08:10 AM
Janet Fetterman
Royal Shell Real Estate Inc - Ocala, FL
Selling Luxury Lifestyles...

Wow...yep,, it was meant for me...zinged me right to the spot it needed to go. Thanks for posting!

Apr 16, 2010 08:29 AM
Michael A. Caruso
Surterre Properties - Laguna Niguel, CA

Thank you for posting this. This is a great story and something everybody should read and live by. Have a great weekend!

I hope you'll remember me if you learn of anyone moving to "The OC" and I will do the same!

Best regards,

Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI

2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors           

 

Apr 16, 2010 08:42 AM
Dan Edward Phillips
Dan Edward Phillips - Eureka, CA
Realtor and Broker/Owner

Great story, we do need to be thankful for what we have and do not have!

Apr 16, 2010 01:57 PM
Paul McFadden
Responsive Pest Control - Seattle, WA
Pest Control, Seattle, WA.

Kabir: Thank you. I always thank God because I know how fortunate I've been. There are others who have many more challenges than me! Thanks again!

Apr 17, 2010 03:19 AM
Robert L. Brown
www.mrbrownsellsgr.com - Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Mic

Great post. Somtime we miss that fact. Thanks for the blog.

Apr 22, 2010 01:45 PM
Rosemary Brooks
BMC Real Estate - 209-910-3706 - Stockton, CA
The Mother & Daughter Realty Team

Great post - thanks for sharing with us.  Have a great day.

Apr 25, 2010 06:46 AM