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."

Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things
don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith,
you just need to trust that every out come is always
to your advantage. Without faith there is no hope,
without hope there is no trust. Trust in the Lord as He
will lead you through the hard times to your advantage.
You just might not know it until
some time later . . .