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 obsessedwith 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.”
Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don’t turn out the way you think they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later…
* * *
Many years ago, in a poor Chinese village, lived a peasant with his son. His only material good, besides the land and his little straw hut, was a horse he had inherited from his father.
One good day, the horse ran away leaving the man without a horse to till the land. His neighbors —who respected him for his honesty and diligence— came to his home to let him know how much they regretted what happened. He thanked the visit, but asked,"How would you know what happened has been a misfortune in my life?"
Somebody commented in a low voice to a friend,"He doesn't want to accept reality, let him think what he wants, as long as he doesn't get sad with what has happened."
And the neighbors went away, feigning to be in agreement with what they had heard.
A week later, his horse came back to the stable, but he was not alone. He brought with him a beautiful mare as company. After knowing this the inhabitants of the village overjoyed, because only now they understood the answer the man had given them, returned to the peasant's home to congratulate him for his good luck.
"Before you had just one horse, now you have two. Congratulations!" they said.
"Thank you very much for your visit and your solidarity," answered the peasant. "But, how do you know that what happened to me is a blessing in my life?"
Confused, and thinking the man was turning insane, the neighbors walked away, commenting on the road,"Is it possible that this man does not understand that God sent him a gift?"
A month had passed, the peasant's son decided to tame the mare. But the animal jumped in an unexpected way, and the boy had a bad fall breaking a leg. The neighbors came back to the peasant's home taking with them presents for the wounded youth. The major of town, solemnly, presented his condolences to the father saying that all were very sad for what had happened. The man thanked the visit and everybody's affection. But he asked,"How can you know if what happened has been a misfortune in my life?"
This sentence left everybody astonished, since nobody could have the least doubt that an accident of his son is a true tragedy. When leaving the peasant's home they commented among themselves,"Really he is becoming crazy; his only son may end up lame forever and he still has doubts that what has happened is a tragedy."
Some months passed and Japan declared war to China. The emissaries went through the country looking for healthy boys to be sent to the battle front. When arrived to the village drafted all the young ones except the peasant's son who was with his broken leg. None of the boys returned alive. His son recovered, the two animals gave a litter that was sold and gave good money. The peasant went to visit his neighbors to console them and help them, since they had shown solidarity with him at all times.Always when any of them complained the peasant said,"How do you know if this is a tragedy?" If somebody was too happy, he asked,"How do you know if that is a blessing?"
And the men of that village understood that, beyond appearances, life has other meanings.
* * *
Two elderly men, Jean and Paul, are both living in a nursing home. Jean is constantly visited by his family; children, grand-children, and great-grand-children. Paul never has any visitors... Not even one.
One afternoon, while sitting on a park bench, Jean decides to ask Paul why no one ever visits him.
"Well," says Paul, "my parents and all my friends have passed away already... And I never married so I don't have any wives or any children."
Curious, John asks, "How come you never married? Do you not like women?"
"Actually," says Paul, "I love women! In fact, to tell you the truth, I searched the whole world looking for the perfect woman to get married to. In France, I met a woman who was beautiful, intelligent, kind, and funny; but unfortunately, she was too tall, so I dumped her. Then, in Italy, I met a woman who was sexy, petite, funny and tender... but she wasn't well educated; so I dumped her too. Then in China, I met a woman who was exotic, passionate, fun to be with, and caring... but she didn't have a good job; so I dumped her as well. In fact, I literally searched the whole world looking for the perfect woman... Every woman, one woman after another, would seem almost perfect, but there would always be something missing."
"Then one day, after years of searching, one of my friends advices me to go to Venezuela. He says all the women there are gorgeous, so there's plenty to choose from. So I go to Venezuela... and sure enough... That's when I met HER. She was absolutely perfect!!! She was drop-dead gorgeous, intelligent, passionate, fun to be with, generous, kind... Everything I've ever dreamt of! We had lots in common... Lots to talk about... she was absolutely perfect!"
"So what happened then?" asks John. "Why didn’t you marry her?"
"Unfortunately," Paul replies, "she was looking for the perfect man..."
