2. A blind boy sat on the stepsA blind boy sat on the steps
of a building with a hat by hisof a building with a hat by his
feet.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 the hat.There were only a few coins in the 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. "Today is a day"Today is a day
and I cannot see it."and I cannot see it."
What he had written was:What he had written was:
9. Do you think the first sign and the secondDo you think the first sign and the second
sign were saying the same thing?sign were saying the same 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 helphelp
by putting some money in the hat.by putting some money in the hat.
The second sign told people that they were ableThe second sign told people that they were able
to enjoy the beauty of the day, but the boy couldto enjoy the beauty of the day, but the boy could
not enjoy it because he was blind.not enjoy it because he was blind.
11. Should we be surprised that the second signShould we be surprised that the second sign
was more effective?was more effective?
12. There are at least two lessons we canThere are at least two lessons we can
learn from this simple story.learn from this simple story.
13. The first is,The first is,
“Be thankful for what you have. Someone else“Be thankful for what you have. Someone else
has less.has less.
HelpHelp where you can.”where you can.”
14. ““Be .Be .
Be .Be .
Think .Think .
THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY!”THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY!”
The second is,The second is,
