A Double Blessing

Good morning to you, friend

How's the world been treating you?

You say things haven't worked out well

And you are feeling blue?

You say there's no future ---

Just loneliness in sight

Perhaps you'll end it all some day

Perhaps this very night.

You say there's nothing here for you

You feel you've reached the end?

My God!  Are you telling me ---

You'd take your life, my friend?

Oh God, give me the wisdom

To change his point of view

I can't let him destroy himself

What a useless thing to do.

Then I had an inspiration

And I said, "Come go with me.

I've just thought of something

That I want you to see."

Our first stop was an orphanage

To see the children there

The ones with defects --- don't you see?

They have no one to care.

The home for aged people

Wasn't far on down the street

To those poor forgotten souls

Just  our visit was a treat.

We wandered on to skid row

Saw the ones who hope no more

They couldn't face things either

What are they living for?

Next came the sick and injured

The amputees, the blind, the lame

They fought for us in Vietnam

They'll never be the same.

If they all have the will to live

Then how could you do less?

You have your arms, your legs, your sight

But you're filled with loneliness.

Give of your love --- to all of these

It will be returned --- I guarantee

And just how precious --- your God-given life

I'm sure you soon will see.

As he left me --- with a purpose now

He didn't hear me softly cry

"Thank you God, for saving US!"

For I, too, had planned to die.

Pearl E. Cain