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This new school year will
be an opportunity to make significant changes in our life. As we search
for these significant changes, let us all take a few moments to consider
the following story. Perhaps the answer lies therein.
There
once lived a rich man who couldn’t understand why he was unhappy. He had
wealth beyond imagination, but was always in a miserable mood. He lived in
a huge mansion by himself. One Christmas Eve he visited a wise old man and
confided in him about his dilemma. The wise old man took him to a window.
"Look
out there," he said.
The
rich man looked out into the street.
"What
do you see?", the wise old man asked.
"I
see men and women and little children," answered the rich man.
Then
the wise old man took the rich man to a mirror.
"What
do you see now?" he asked.
"I
see myself," the rich man answered.
Then
the wise old man explained, "Behold, both the window and the mirror
are made of glass. But the glass of the mirror is covered with silver. No
sooner is silver added than you cease to see others and see only
yourself."
The
rich man left the wise old man and drove to his only sister’s house for
his annual Christmas Eve visit to deliver some very expensive gifts that
he had purchased for her family. It was the only day of the year he saw
his sister and he usually just stayed long enough to drop off the presents
and wish them a Merry Christmas.
When
he arrived at the door, he was warmly greeted by his sister, her husband,
and their five year old daughter. His sister and her husband were of
modest means, living in a small apartment, yet they were always happy. The
rich man was still confused from the advice given by the wise old man.
It
was just then that the little girl ran into the living room and returned
to give her rich uncle a present. The look in her eyes would have one
believe that it was something very precious. When the rich man opened up
the package, it was an angel pasted on a pie plate. It mattered not that
the angel looked like a clown, nor that it was pasted on crooked. What
mattered is that the little girl had given the rich man something that all
the money in the world couldn’t buy. For the first time that he could
remember, there were tears in his eyes, as the little girl gave him a big
hug and asked him to stay for a while to play with her.
The
rich man’s sister and her husband were both surprised and delighted when
the man accepted the little girl’s invitation. It was the first time he
had ever entered the apartment, although he was often asked. When he left
several hours later, he realized that the little girl had given him one of
life’s finest gifts. When she kissed him good bye and told him that this
was the best Christmas she ever had, he suddenly understood what the wise
old man was trying to tell him earlier in the day.
As
he drove home that evening the stars in the sky seemed to be shining a
little bit brighter. From that day onward, the rich man stopped spending
time looking in mirrors, and instead, looked through every window he could
find. He discovered that real joy comes not from accumulating riches or
hoarding material things, but from doing something worthwhile for others.
The little five-year old girl showed him that all the expensive presents
in the world were not as important to her as spending a few hours playing
with her uncle. The rich man never again felt unhappy! And he never again
spent Christmas, Thanksgiving or birthdays alone.
This
year, let us all take the time to look through windows so that we may
truly see the things in this world that count. Let us all make a New
Year’s Resolution to spend those precious moments with our loved ones as
we discover the most precious gifts of all. |
