TWO TRAVELING ANGELS STOPPED AT THE HOUSE OF A RICH MAN. THEY ASKED FOR A NIGHT'S LODGING. THE FAMILY WAS QUITE RUDE AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE ANGELS TO STAY IN THE MANSION'S GUEST ROOM BUT ALLOWED THEM TO STAY IN A SMALL PART OF THE BASEMENT. AS THE ANGELS WERE MAKING A BED ON THE HARD BASEMENT FLOOR, THEY NOTICED A HOLE IN THE WALL. THE OLDER OF THE TWO, REPAIRED THE WALL. THE YOUNGER ANGEL ASKED WHY DID YOU DO THAT WHEN THIS FAMILY IS SO SELFISH? THE OLDER ANGEL REPLIED "THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY SEEM".
THE NEXT NIGHT, THE ANGELS STOPPED AT A POOR MAN'S HOUSE, ASKING FOR LODGING. THIS FAMILY WAS VERY KIND, SHARING WHAT LITTLE FOOD THEY HAD AND ALLOWING THEM TO STAY IN THEIR ROOM SO THEY WOULD HAVE A GOOD NIGHT'S REST. THE NEXT MORNING, THE ANGELS FOUND THE MAN AND HIS WIFE IN TEARS. THE ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME THEY HAD, A COW, LAY DEAD IN THE FIELD.
THE YOUNGER ANGEL ASKED THE OLDER ONE, "HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN"? THE OLDER ANGEL SAID "THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY SEEM". THE YOUNGER ANGEL DEMANDED TO KNOW WHY THIS HAD HAPPENED. "THE RICH FAMILY WAS SO RUDE YET YOU HELPED THEM. THIS POOR FAMILY WAS KIND AND GRACIOUS AND YET YOU LET THE ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME THEY HAD DIE....WHY"?
THE OLDER ANGEL SAID "WHEN I SAW THE HOLE IN THE WALL AT THE RICH MAN'S HOUSE, I SAW THERE WAS GOLD HIDDEN THERE. SINCE THEY WERE SO OBSESSED WITH GREED, I SEALED IT SO THEY COULD NOT FIND IT. LAST NIGHT AS YOU SLEPT, THE ANGEL OF DEATH CAME FOR THE POOR MAN'S WIFE......I GAVE HIM THE COW INSTEAD. "
THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY SEEM.