Things Aren't Always What They Seem

--Author Unknown  

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the guestroom of the mansion. Instead, they were given a space in the cold basement.  

As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem". The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had, the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.  

The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel "How could you have let this happen!? The first man had everything, yet you helped him. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let their cow die." The older angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem. When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave her the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem."  
 

Think about this:
- Should you find it hard to get to sleep tonight, just remember the homeless who have no bed to lie in.
 
- Should you find yourself stuck in traffic, know that there are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege.
 
- Should you have a bad day at work, think of the man who has been out of work for the last three months.
 
- Should you despair over a relationship gone bad, think of the person who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return.
 
- Should you grieve the passing of another weekend, think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week, for $15.00 to feed her family.
 
- Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance, think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk.  

- Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror, think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine.
 
- Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, what is my purpose? Be thankful, there are those who don't live long enough to get the opportunity.
 
- Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities, remember, things could be worse. You could be them!  

- Should you decide to send this to a friend, you might brighten someone's day.