Nickels and Dimes

If I give a little and get a little back,
that’s perfectly fine by me.
Some people give it all away
so their nosey neighbors can see
what appears to be a generous act,
but look closer and you’ll see

that from their abundance they gave what amounts
to a nickel, maybe a dime.
That’s how most people show they care,
and it happens all the time.
They feel the need to be praised and adored.
It should be a federal crime.

I guess, someday, they will stand before God,
two nickels, two dimes in hand
ready to move to the Penthouse floor
where all is lovely and grand.
But both will be stunned, speechless, in shock
when they learn that God is aware of their plan.

Sad to say, just yesterday
God called them for a quick walk-through,
but I’m happy to say that as of today
new arrivals got rooms with views.
Well, forgive me; that’s not quite true.
Let me try to explain it to you.

Our stingy friends with their nickels and dimes,
dissatisfied through and through,
complained to God that they would not live
in a basement that had no view.
“Dear ones,” said God, “I want you to see
that generosity applied to you.

Your nickels and dimes have bought you a place
that has the perfect view…for you.
Be grateful for Grace that is greater than greed;
by the way, there’s a sub-basement, too.”
So, the saying is true; take it to heart:
be generous in all you do

or, you might be assigned a new address:
the basement that has no view.
A word of advice? If I were you,
I’d avoid that sub-basement, too.