Glimpses Beyond the Glitter
Unseen riches on the roadsides
The richest among us are not those with abundant wealth, but those who possess a wealth of heart and spirit
For in the currency of kindness, the poor may indeed be the wealthiest.
Walking through the city streets
the noise and rush surround me
glittering lights and towering buildings
a world of plenty and excess
people hurrying with purpose
wrapped in their own lives
rarely glancing sideways
at the shadows in the corners
I pause at a traffic light
watching the bustling crowd
my eyes wander to the edges
where life is different
there on the roadsides
people gather with nothing but each other
their lives stripped bare of luxury
yet there’s a glow a richness in their eyes
Have you taken a glance at those on roadsides
they are destitute
but very rich
richer than the richest tycoons
richer than the gold that glitters
I remember a night cold and starless
I watched a man sit down on the curb
he opened a small bag of food
and started to share with those around him
His clothes were simple
his hands steady and sure
he handed out sandwiches
to children with bright eyes
to women with weary faces
to men with rough hands and gentle smiles
There was a quiet exchange
a thank you
a nod and a smile
no words needed to be spoken
it was clear they all knew
the language of giving
the language of humanity
Their laughter rose in the night air
their spirits lifted with each bite
they shared more than just food
they shared stories and moments
they shared pieces of their hearts
I stood at a distance watching
my heart filled with awe
how often do we judge too quickly
measuring worth by the weight of a wallet
by the comfort of a home
forgetting that true wealth
is found in the spirit, in the soul
I saw children laughing in the alleys
their clothes tattered their faces bright
they had no toys
no gadgets, no screens
yet their joy was immense
they found happiness in simple games
their laughter contagious their spirits free
I walked away that night
my pockets empty but my heart full
thinking of the man who shared his meal
thinking of the children who found joy
in the simplest of things
in the smallest of moments
So next time you see them on the roadsides
the poor the destitute remember
they may lack in material wealth
but they possess a richness
a treasure trove of human experience
of joy in the face of hardship
of love amid struggle
Remember that true wealth
is not measured in what we own
but in the richness of our hearts
in the connections we make
in the moments we share
in the love, we give and receive
There is a light within each person
a wealth beyond material bounds
an unbreakable spirit that shines
brighter than gold or diamonds
in every smile given freely
in every hand in kindness
we find the richest treasures of all
Have you taken a glance at those on roadsides
they are poor
but very rich richer than tycoons
richer than the gold that glitters
amidst destitution
their spirits radiate the truest wealth
Hearts gleam with priceless riches where poverty dwells
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