Two Old Women

There were two old women in a town. The healthy one often wore a frown. She never helped an earthly soul, nor saw the beauty of life unfold. All she thought about was herself. How she could save and keep her wealth. She cared not for the suffering poor. The little children she'd quickly ignore. The other old woman in that town fed the poor who were all around. She read and told stories to the old, and baked children cookies with icing of gold. She lovingly bandaged wounds of the sick, and never let her mind nit pick. She gossiped not about things left undone. Her only desire was to please God's Son. Although she wasn't healthy herself, she never complained or wished for wealth. She loved the many folks who came to visit her home no matter their game. To look at her no one could see her time on earth soon would not be. The healthy old woman constantly complained. The Godly old woman steadfastly remained. When Agnes died, the whole town wept. Poor children by her little grave slept. The dogs and cats in the alley howled. The complainer around her tombstone prowled. The complainer lived to be one hundred and three; each day hating more of the world she'd see. She never knew what a help she could be. She was dead while she lived. Neither kindness, or love had she. But Agnes, though she died, lives with God for eternity. Janet Marie Bingham