A rich man stood atop a hill
And looked across his land,
He sat inside his mansion grand
And judged all at his hand.
For all his earthly wants and needs
Were more than satisfied,
Except he had no family here,
No friends, no kids, no bride.
Well if you did compare my wealth
With all he could display,
I think that from a worldly view
You’d find to your dismay,
That I could not produce the total
Cash or land or jewels,
To match the many valued things
o’er which the rich man rules.
But I don’t measure what I have
By standards set by men.
And I would not trade mine for his
Or even his times ten.
‘Cause I have comforts in this life
Which can’t be bought or sold,
They’re treasures which I’ll take from earth
And will forever hold.
They are my loving parents
and the family I have known,
The wife who warms me night and day
And children small and grown.
The memories of times I’ve had,
There’s no way you can tell,
Just how much They’ve enriched my soul
Their warmth you can not quell.
The many blessings I’ve received
In life I can not count.
There’s no way with earths worldly goods
Their value you’ll surmount.
I can’t express my thanks enough
To God high up above,
For all the spirits sent on earth
That share with me their love.
So though he may have millions
With his jewels, his land and gold
I don’t think I would trade him, not
For all his wealth untold.
For when my time is over
And I answer to God’s call,
I know I’ll find that here on earth
I’m richest of them all.
P. F. Kuhlmann