A blind boy was sitting with a hat to collect coins, with a sign that said "I am blind". A man changed the sign to say "Today is a day and I cannot see it", which was more effective - more people gave money. The man explained that he just wrote the truth in a different way. The story teaches us to be thankful for what we have, help others who have less, and that there is always a way if we think about things from a different perspective.

1. THERE IS A
WAY

2. A blind boy sat on the steps of aA blind boy sat on the steps of a
building with a hat by his feet.building with a hat by his feet.
He held up a sign which said:He held up a sign which said:

3. A man was walking by. He took a fewA man was walking by. He took a few
coins from his pocket and dropped themcoins from his pocket and dropped them
into the hat.into the hat.
There were only a few coins in theThere were only a few coins in the
hat.hat.

4. He then took the sign, turned it around,He then took the sign, turned it around,
and wrote some words.and wrote some words.
He put the sign back so that everyoneHe put the sign back so that everyone
who walked by will see the new words.who walked by will see the new words.

5. Soon the hat began to fill up.Soon the hat began to fill up.
A lot more people were giving moneyA lot more people were giving money
to the blind boy.to the blind boy.

6. The boy recognized his footsteps andThe boy recognized his footsteps and
asked,asked,
”Were you the one who changed my sign”Were you the one who changed my sign
this morning? What did you write?”this morning? What did you write?”
That afternoon the man who had changedThat afternoon the man who had changed
the sign came to see how things were.the sign came to see how things were.

7. The man said,The man said,
“I only wrote the truth.“I only wrote the truth.
I said what you said but in a way.”I said what you said but in a way.”

8. What he had written was:What he had written was:
"Today is a day"Today is a day
and I cannot see it."and I cannot see it."

9. Do you think the first sign and theDo you think the first sign and the
second sign were saying the samesecond sign were saying the same
thing?thing?
Of course both signs told people theOf course both signs told people the
boy was blind.boy was blind.

10. But the first sign simply told people toBut the first sign simply told people to
help by putting some money in the hat.help by putting some money in the hat.
The second sign told people that they wereThe second sign told people that they were
able to enjoy the beauty of the day, but theable to enjoy the beauty of the day, but the
boy could not enjoy it because he was blind.boy could not enjoy it because he was blind.

11. Should we be surprised that theShould we be surprised that the
second sign was more effective?second sign was more effective?

12. There are at least two lessons weThere are at least two lessons we
can learn from this simple story.can learn from this simple story.

13. The first is,The first is,
“Be thankful for what you have. Someone“Be thankful for what you have. Someone
else has less.else has less.
HelpHelp where you can.”where you can.”

14. The second is,The second is,
“Be .“Be .
Be .Be .
Think .Think .
THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY!”THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY!”