A brother’s sacrifice …….. In a small village near Nuremberg, lived a family with 10 children. To keep the family fed and sheltered, their father had to work almost 18 hours a day. Despite their hopeless condition, two of the eldest children had a dream.

The both dreamed of becoming prolific artist, but they knew that their father would never be able to afford to send them both.

After countless discussions by candlelight, the boys finally came up with the solution.

They would toss a coin…..

Condition: The looser would work nearby mines, to support the other to attend the academy and after 4 years, they would switch. The winner would then have to support the other to attend the school.

Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to Nuremberg to study at the academy as planned. And, Albert, as promised, went down into the mines.

For the next 4 years, one painted and one worked….

Albrecht’s paintings where an almost immediate sensation and his work was considered better than most of his professors. By the time he graduated, he was able to earn a considerable income.

When the 4 years were up, Albrecht returned home triumphant. He proposed a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enable him to fulfill his ambition.

“And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now is your turn. Now you can go to the academy and pursue your dream, I ll take care of you.”

All heads turned in eager anticipation to the far end of the table where Albert sat.

But to their surprise, tears were streaming down Albert’s face. Shaking his lowered head from side to side, he sobbed repeatedly,” no, no, no.”

 “No, brother, I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look at what four years in the mines had done to my hands!”

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Albrecht held his brother’s hand and burst into tears, every fingered had been damaged so badly that he could barely raise a glass to toast. Albert could no longer pursue his dream.

More than 450 years have been passed. But still, Albrecht Durer’s masterpieces hang in every grid gallery, on the planet.

Above each of his pieces hangs a simple drawing, to pay homepage to Albert for all that he sacrificed. He called it simply, “Hand” But the entire world called his Tribute of love, “The Praying Hands.”

Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness. Napoleon hill…..