One day a professor entered the room and asked his class to prepare for a surprise test. They all waited anxiously at their desks for the exam to begin. The professor handed out the exam with the text facing down as usual. Once he handed them all out, he asked the students to turn over the papers.

To everyone’s surprise, there were no questions, just a black dot on the center of the sheet of paper.  The professor seeing the expression on everyone’s face, told them the following: “I want you to write about what you see there…” the students confused got started on the inexplicable task.

At the end of the class, the professor took all the exams, and started reading each of them out loud, in front of all of the students. All of them without exception defined the black dot trying to explain its position on the center of the sheet.

After all had been read, the classroom silent, the professor started to explain: “I am not going to grade you on this, I just wanted to give you something to think about. No one wrote about the white part on the paper. Everyone focused on the black dot – and the same happens in our lives. 

We have a white piece of paper to observe and enjoy, but we always focus on the black dots. Our life is a gift given to us by God, with love and care and we always have reasons to celebrate, nature renewing itself every day, our friends around us, the jobs that provide our livelihood, the miracles we see every day, 

However, we insist on focusing only on the dark spot, the health issues that bother us, the lack of money, the complicated relationship with a family member, the disappointment with a friend. Doctors tell us that patients who choose to be upbeat and positive while battling the greatest of health concerns typically fare much better than those who persist in negativism. Truth be told, we have a lot more blessings in our lives than troubles.

The dark spots are very small when compared to everything we have in our lives, but they’re the ones that pollute our mind.   Take your eyes away from the black dots in your life. Enjoy each one of your blessings; each moment that life gives you. Be happy and live a life filled with love.

And always remember, if you are laden with cares, focusing only on problems, having trouble sleeping because of cares, try something other than counting sheep! Talk to the Shepherd. God, the Giver of all good things not only listens but promises His comfort, guidance and peace!