I recently heard the story of a man named Jim Stovall, who
became totally blind at age 29. While he still had partial vision, he
volunteered at a school for the blind. He was assigned to help a
4-year-old boy, who was blind and severely handicapped. Stovall
spent considerable time trying to convince the boy he could tie his
own shoes or even climb stairs in spite of his limitations.
“No, I can’t!” the boy insisted.
“Yes, you can,” Stovall replied.
“No, I can’t!”
The verbal battle went on.
Meanwhile, Stovall fought his own limitations. Because of his
deteriorating vision, he decided he had to quit his college courses.
On his way to withdraw from college, he passed the school for the
blind and decided to resign his volunteer position as well.
“It’s just too tough,” he explained. “I can’t do it.”
‘Yes, you can!” said a little voice beside him. It was the 4-year-old
who refused to tie his shoes.
“No, I can’t!” said
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