There's a story of two shopkeepers who owned stores across the street from one another and who hated one another. One night the angel of the Lord came to the first shopkeeper and said: The Lord has sent me to you with the promise to grant one wish no matter how extravagant. There is only one catch: Whatever you receive, your rival shopkeeper will receive two-fold. The shopkeeper thought for a moment and then replied: My wish is that you would strike me blind in one eye!

We have this choice: To orient our lives around blessing or curse.