One Last Chance

Proverbs 23:4-" Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle."
Psalm 90:12- "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

I saw the man's old, shriveled, dry hands-
They were hardened from long,
Restless hours of work.
He had lived to an old age,
But had not found satisfaction.
He had made many riches
But had not found happiness.
Life, as he saw it, was all about riches;
Because with riches, one could have anything,
Except the most valuable things in life.

Money could not buy a smile or a sunset-
He had finally come to understand this.
Wealth was not everything in life,
the most treasured things were free.
But now it was too late-
He had lost contact with his kids-his family.
He had grown weary and old,
And his health was failing.
He did not feel happy or loved-
And most importantly, he had forgotten God.

I looked up at his tired wrinkled face.
His blue eyes had lost their sparkle;
His lips could not form a smile.
I wondered why it took people so long
To realize the most important things in life.
I noticed how fast people could
Fall away from God and change.
Even though the old man had made a huge mistake in life,
He had a chance:
A chance to make things right with family and with God.
There was a little more time left to change-
A crust of hope left,
But only if he would realize it sooner than he had
Realized the destructive forces of wealth.