Play it Safe...

 I thought of going to the man by the road

Then taking his hand and lifting his load

But a voice in my head slyly spoke in my ear, 

"Play it safe."

I saw the poor child who needed a hug,

His hands were so grubby his face all a smudge,

But a tune in my ear sang so softly and low, 

"Play it safe."

I bowed to the woman who stood by her car. 

I figured her help would come from afar. 

But a sweet lilting voice banged a slight melody,

"Play it safe."

At the end of the day, I saw my poor wife.

I took in the counter and the children's last strife.

And I thought to myself surely this is the time, 

"Play it safe."

So I walked to my room, took a nice steaming shower,

Emerging in time for a hot steaming platter,

I shoveled it in thinking only of me.

"Play it safe."

I laid in my bed at the end of that day

And put each event on my memory's replay. 

I brought up the woman and man by the road.

I remembered my wife and her tiring load. 

I thought of the child, grubby but sweet

And in my mind's eye, I sighed with relief. 

"I was safe."

Matthew 25:41-45

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.