There was once a farmer whose land was hilly and the soil was not the best. He had a cow that gave little milk and chickens that laid few eggs. The farm looked run-down, with the barn and fences in need of repair. The farmer and his wife were so dejected that they could not manage to get the farm back on its feet.
One stormy evening, a poorly dressed man knocked on their door, asking for shelter for the night. They shared their modest meal and talked at length about the sad state of the farm.
When the stranger left the next morning, he thanked them for their hospitality. At the door, he pulled a small bag of gold pieces from his pocket, saying it might help them. He added that he would return the following year, hoping to find a revived farm.
Afterward, the farmer and his wife often discussed whether to buy a more promising cow or better-laying chickens. However, each conversation ended with the farmer simply trusting that the farm would improve. He found himself fixing the barn and fences, caring for the animals, and planting crops for themselves, their livestock, and to sell at market.
A year later, the stranger returned. The farm looked much better. "What did you use the gold for?" the stranger asked.
"Why," the farmer replied, "we hid the gold under a kitchen tile. Though we often thought of it, we never found anything we truly needed it for."
The farmer then looked the stranger in the eye and added thoughtfully, "I thank you ever so much. You gave us what we really needed to keep going—you lifted our spirits."
With that, the farmer dug up the tile and cheerfully returned the gold to the stranger.