What is Your Perspective?

This came in an email and I thought it was so good, I had to share it!

One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”

“It was great, Dad.”

“Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.

“Oh yeah,” said the son. “So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father.

The son answered: “I saw that we have one dog and they had four.

We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.

We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to liv
e on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.

We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

We buy our food, but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.”

The boy’s father was speechless.

Then his son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are.”

Isn’t perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don’t have.

3 Comments

  1. Tea Bestavashvili on March 1, 2010 at 7:08 pm

    This is so GREAT. I loved it

  2. Leah on March 2, 2010 at 1:52 pm

    LOL!! That’s so true…. Even though we don’t have much money growing up ourselves.. I’m very blessed to raise and live on a lake…and appreciated all of the beautiful sunrises and sunsets, the water activities, the four seasons scenes, and the calm feelings…. It’s well appreciated.. Thanks for sharing!

  3. Paul on March 2, 2010 at 2:08 pm

    I agree with both of you – it is a great story! It certainly makes you think about what you have, or what you don’t have!

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