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Did you ever stop and think about what stories you repeat, either aloud or by forwarding an email? What is the message? Here is one I received a few days ago:

The Blind Man, author unknown

One day, there was a blind man sitting on the steps of a building with
a hat by his feet and a sign that read: "I am blind, please help."
A creative publicist was walking by and stopped to observe. He saw
that the blind man had only a few coins in his hat. He dropped in more
coins and, without asking for permission, took the sign and rewrote
it. He returned the sign to the blind man and left. That afternoon the
publicist returned to the blind man and noticed that his hat was full
of bills and coins.

The blind man recognized his footsteps and asked if it was he who had
rewritten his sign and wanted to know what he had written on it.

The publicist responded: "Nothing that was not true. I just wrote the
message a little differently." He smiled and went on his way. The new
sign read: "Today is Spring and I cannot see it." The End.

You can read a story on many different levels and take away from it a variety of lessons.
Stop for a moment and ask yourself this question: What message about blindness does this story convey?

Blind beggars used to be commonplace, but in these modern times, is it a good thing to perpetuate that image? I say, "No."

What does this story say to you? Certainly, it highlights the power of marketing to bring about results. That is true, granted, but perhaps there is a deeper layer of meaning. I encourage all of you to consider thoughtfully.

The tale tells me that a man should beg for compensation since he is unable to witness the beauty of the world because of his lack of vision.

I awoke this morning to the soft muzzle of my dog Molly nudging me to take her out. Her plume-tail wagged up a breeze that made me want to stay nestled in the warmth of my covers instead of facing the cold morning. But after a poke in the shoulder and a face washing, I woke up the two cats lying on my chest and abdomen and laughed my way out of bed.

Have you noticed that some of the birds who left the Ozarks for winter are returning? I heard them this morning. One that I call the "wow-wow" bird because of his song serenaded me this morning. The air smelled crisp, and though the day was cold, sunshine warmed not only my face, but also my spirit. What a glorious place this is! What a joy to live in the Ozarks!

I do not miss the smell of car exhaust, the crowds, or the sound of sirens I heard every day in the big city.

As I walked to the chicken coop to let the birds come out into the bright day, I heard the exuberant sounds of their eagerness to be free. Chickens have an amazing vocabulary. I never knew that until I cared for a flock of my own.

As I walked Molly, two of my neighbors slowed their cars and talked with me, and in the grocery store, we met several dear friends. There are many wonderful people here in Stone County.

When I am not out enjoying nature, running errands or being entertained by my pets, I delight in creating magical stories, helpful articles, and amusing slices of life for people who love to read. When I'm not writing, I might be preparing three-cheese biscuits or Scottish oat-cakes to delight the taste buds, or massaging away someone's aches and pains.

In short, life is good. I am not wealthy in the usual way, but I feel richly blessed with loving family and friends, wonderful animals, talents that touch peoples' lives, and a heart full of gratitude.

What, you might wonder, does any of this have to do with the story of the blind man? I am legally blind. True, there are a few things I cannot do because of it, like drive a car. But why would I beg to compensate my loss? I am only lacking if I choose to see it that way.

Think about the stories you repeat.