THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM
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 mansion's
guest room. Instead the angels were given a small
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,
she accused. The second family had little but was
willing to share everything, and you let the cow die. "Things aren't always what they seem," the older
angel replied.
"When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I
noticed there was gold stored 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 him the
cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem."
