Wealth of Living

There's been a lot of discussion lately about "wealth," and how much wealth one person or family needs to live comfortably.  The rich are asked to pay more in taxes so that there will be funds to help the less fortunate.  "Wealth" is determined by income and socioeconomic status.

 

This little piece, while titled "Wealth in Living," never speaks about financial success.  Wealth is not monetary but moral--what do we have to give that could help another soul.  The author asks us to cast self aside.  A strange concept in today's world where we spend more time thinking about ourselves than others.

 

Today's poem has no author attributed other than the initials A.M.  I can't find any reference in a google search.  The piece was submitted to the journal by a Thekla Freund.

 

 

This is true wealth of living:

  To share in other's lives,

To feel their joy in giving,

   Their faith which upward strives;

To lend to others' weakness

   What strength we can command

To learn to live with meekness,

   To try to understand.

 

This is true wealth of living:

   Not hoarding any good,

But day by day forgiving

   Each hostile word or mood;

Not keeping any treasures,

   Just for our selfish ends,

But passing on the pleasures

   Each sparkling morning sends.

 

This is true wealth of living:

   To cast self all aside,

And in serene thanksgiving

   For all life's good, abide.