Positive Thoughts

                We can strengthen our children by helping them to understand the importance of their thoughts and teaching them to think positively rather than negatively.  Our thoughts determine what we will become.  When we think positive thoughts, we bring light and goodness into our lives.  When we concentrate on the bad things in our lives or in the world around us, we bring darkness into our lives.  Since light is much better for personal growth than darkness, we should cultivate light and help our children to do the same.

                I do not know if the following story really happened or if it is just fiction, but I do know that it has a wonderful moral.  In either case, it is a beautiful, inspiring, and touching story as well as a humbling lesson.  It describes how one man brought light and goodness into the life of his friend by thinking beautiful thoughts.

                Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.  One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.  His bed was next to the room’s only window.  The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

                The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.  Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.  The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

                The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.  Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats.  Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. 

                As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.  One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.  Although the other man could not hear the band – he could see it in his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. 

                Days, weeks and months passed.  One morning the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep.  She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

                As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window.  The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.  Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.  He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.  It faced a blank wall.

                The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.  The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.  She said, “Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.”

                Epilogue:  There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.  Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.  If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can’t buy.  Today is a gift; that is why it is called “The Present.”  (Origin unknown)   

                We can give gifts to others by thinking beautiful thoughts and looking on the bright side of life.  We all have problems and difficulties, but we do not need to let our hard times bring darkness to ourselves and/or others.  We can bring light and goodness to other people by keeping our thoughts positive.  People who think positive thoughts strengthen themselves as well as their families, communities, and nations.