“There are croakers in every country, always boding its ruin.” – Ben Franklin
This summer while vacationing in Florida Dan and I were delighted to find a Goodwill bookstore. It
was clean, well organized and had an incredible book selection. We spent a long time perusing the shelves and left with several bags of books we have enjoyed reading. One book, Ben Franklin’s Almanac of Wit, Wisdom, and Practical Advice by the editors of The Old Farmer’s Almanac has become a particular favorite and Dan and I enjoy sharing with each other tidbits we have learned. This story was, I thought, particularly poignant since I read it the day before our big Open House. In light of my observation that the attendees to our Open House were so positive and encouraged, I think it will speak to you:
When Ben Franklin opened his own print shop, a distinguished old gentleman named Mickle appeared at his door. Mickle asked Ben if he was the proprietor, and when Ben replied that he was, Mickle said he was sorry. Printing was an expensive undertaking, he explained, and Philadelphia was a bad place to start any new business. Half the citizens were bankrupt, and the rest were on the way to ruin. True, new buildings were being constructed and rents were rising, but those were simply signs of false hope. The area was doomed.
The old man went on in this vein for some time, and by the time he left, Ben was thoroughly depressed. Later, he said that if he’d met Mickle before going into business, he never would have done it.
Nevertheless, in the years to come, Philadelphia thrived—as did Ben’s printing business—and old man Mickle continued to predict its downfall. Many years later, Mickle finally bought a house in the city, and Ben was pleased to note that he paid five times what he would have when he first began his “croaking.”
Interesting how life tends to give you what you expect. Dan and I choose to expect good things to happen. We expect success. And we work hard to make those expectations come true. God is faithful but I do think He is happier when we do our share with an attitude of gratefulness.
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