Be Thankful For What You Have
This is a picture of a Chinese boy named Wang Fuman. Two years ago, a teacher took a photo of him that many people saw.
To take an important exam, Wang walked 5 kilometers in very cold weather—9 degrees below zero. He wore only a light jacket and no hat. His hair and eyebrows were covered in ice, and his cheeks were very red from the cold.
There was no heating at his home or at his school. All the students had to wear their coats during class. Wang really wanted to get a good education because he knew it was the only way to leave poverty.
At the exam, Wang worked hard and got 99 points out of 100.
After the teacher shared Wang’s photo online, many people wanted to help. They raised 3 million yuan, about $450,000. With this money, they fixed the heating at Wang’s school, bought heaters, and warm clothes for children from poor families in Yunnan province.
Wang was also invited to visit Beijing. What impressed him most was what he said about the trip: “At home, we burn charcoal and sleep with our jackets on. Here, the houses are so warm, and I can walk around in just a shirt! Heating is a miracle!”
This story makes us think. Many times, we don’t appreciate what we already have.