It’s not a new story. I’m sure many of you may have already heard or read some version of it before. I have, but when I came across it again in preparing for this week’s message, it grabbed my attention.
Let’s begin with the tale itself:
There was a blind girl who hated herself just because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry her boyfriend.
One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her and then she could see everything, including her boyfriend. Her boyfriend asked her, “Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?”
The girl was shocked when she saw that her boyfriend was blind too, and refused to marry him. Her boyfriend walked away in tears, and later wrote a letter to her saying:
“Just take care of my eyes dear.”
The website where I found this poignant story added the following commentary:
“This is how our human brain often changes our attitude when we undergo life altering changes. Often we no longer remember what our world was before. This can be a good or bad. What we should all strive for is to never forget those who have always been there to lend us support especially in our most painful situations.”
What a reminder this story should be to us all of our need to endeavor to be more mindful of the many treasures that abound in our lives. This is especially true when we are amidst our seemingly most challenging struggles. While our focus naturally shifts to whatever burden we are carrying at the moment, we must resist falling into the trap of becoming so consumed by ourselves and our plight that we become blinded to the inexorable truth that too often the most beautiful of the stars that surround us every night we take for granted and that our lives are truly abundant with so many precious gifts, regardless of our situation or condition. As Latter Day Saints Elder and spiritual writer, Joseph B. Wirthlin, so beautifully put it, “The more often we see the things around us – even the beautiful and wonderful things – the more they become invisible to us. That is why we often take for granted the beauty of this world: the flowers, the trees, the birds, the clouds – even those we love. Because we see things so often, we see them less and less.”
The Gift of Life
Today before you think of saying an unkind word–
think of someone who can’t speak.
Before you complain about the taste of your food–
think of someone who has nothing to eat.
Before you complain about your husband or wife–
think of someone who is crying out to God for a companion.
Today before you complain about life–
think of someone who went too early to heaven.
Before you complain about your children–
think of someone who desires children but they’re barren.
Before you argue about your dirty house, someone didn’t clean or sweep–
think of the people who are living in the streets.
Before whining about the distance you drive–
think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.
And when you are tired and complain about your job–
think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.
But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another–
remember that not one of us are without sin and we all answer to one maker.
And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down–
put a smile on your face and thank God you’re alive and still around.
Life is a gift – Live it, Enjoy it, Celebrate it, and Fulfill it.
Have an AWE-full Weekend!
William J. “Bill” Bacqué