Page 46 - ThinkandGrowRichJourney2020

46 THINK AND GROW RICH
360 stories designed to develop in him self-reliance, imagination, and a keen desire to
361 hear.
362 There was one story in particular, which I emphasized by giving it some new and
363 dramatic coloring each time it was told. It was designed to plant in his mind the
364 thought that his affliction was not a liability, but an asset of great value. Despite
365 the fact that all the philosophy I had examined clearly indicated that EVERY
366 ADVERSITY BRINGS WITH IT THE SEED OF AN EQUIVALENT
367 ADVANTAGE, I must confess that I had not the slightest idea how this
368 affliction could ever be- come an asset. However, I continued my practice of
369 wrapping that philosophy in bedtime stories, hoping the time would come when
370 he would find some plan by which his handicap could be made to serve some
371 useful purpose.
372 Reason told me plainly, that there was no adequate compensation for the lack of
373 ears and natural hearing equipment.
374 DESIRE backed by FAITH, pushed reason aside, and inspired me to carry on.
375 As I analyze the experience in retrospect, I can see now, that my son's faith in
376 me had much to do with the astounding results. He did not question anything I
377 told him. I sold him the idea that he had a distinct advantage over his older
378 brother, and that this advantage would reflect itself in many ways.
379 For example, the teachers in school would observe that he had no ears, and,
380 because of this, they would show him special attention and treat him with
381 extraordinary kindness. They always did. His mother saw to that, by visiting the
382 teachers and arranging with them to give the child the extra attention necessary. I
383 sold him the idea, too, that when he became old enough to sell newspapers, (his
384 older brother had already become a newspaper merchant), he would have a big
385 advantage over his brother, for the reason that people would pay him extra
386 money for his wares, because they could see that he was a bright, industrious
387 boy, despite the fact he had no ears.