Two angels, travelers, descended upon the house of a wealthy family to spend the night. This family behaved improperly and did not allow the two angels into their luxurious guest room. Instead, they provided them with the cold cellar beneath the house. The old angel noticed a crack in the cellar wall and repaired it. When the young angel asked why he did such a thing, he replied, “Not all things are as they seem!”
The next night, the two angels visited the home of a poor but very hospitable family. After sharing a modest meal, the poor couple offered their own bed to the two angels.
The next morning, the angels saw the poor couple crying, their cow, their only means of livelihood, dead in the field.
The young angel became angry and asked the old angel, “Why did you allow such a thing to happen?”
The previous family had everything, and yet you helped them. But this family has so little, and you allowed their cow to die!
The old angel replied, “When we were in the cellar of the wealthy family, I noticed a bag of gold hidden in the crack of the wall. Because they were very greedy and unkind, I sealed the crack and hid the gold from their sight. Last night, when I was sleeping in the bed of the poor couple, the angel of death came to take the life of the poor woman, and instead of her, I gave him their cow!”
“Not all things are as they seem, and sometimes we only realize this too late.”
So pay attention, perhaps the person ringing your doorbell is an angel, or the look and smile you pass by indifferently might be those who have come to assess your deeds!
