There Are Two Kinds…Which Are You?

Sep 28, 2009, Written by Sue Miley

I wanted to share this poem I read by Ella Wheeler Wilcox in a John Maxwell book:

Which Are You?

There are two kinds of people on earth today;

Just two kinds of people, no more I say,

Not the sinner and saint, for it’s well understood,

That the good are half-bad and the bad half-good.

Not the rich and the poor, for to rate a man’s wealth,

You must first know the state of his conscience and health.

Not the humble and proud, for in life’s little span,

Who puts on vain airs, is not counted a man.

Not the happy and sad, for the swift flying years

Bring each man his laughter and each man his tears.

No; the two kinds of people on earth I mean,

Are the people who lift, and the people who lean.

Wherever you go, you will find the earth’s masses,

Are always divided in just these two classes.

And oddly enough, you will find too, I wean,

There’s only one lifter to twenty who lean.

In which class are you?  Are you easing the load,

Of overtaxed lifters, who toil down the road?

Or are you a leaner, who lets others share

Your portion of labor, worry and care?

I found a lot of truth to this poem.  I want to be a “lifter”, how about you?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Debbie Ipson says

    My goal & focus in life is to be a
    lifter. I want to make a difference by being in a position that will enable me to give back just a small portion of all the blessings I have received. I feel an undeniable drive to do whatever I can. I am still in the process of figuring out what that might be, but I know God will let me know what that will be if I keep an open heart & mind. I have already wasted too much time as a leaner!

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Sue Miley

Sue Miley MBA, MA, LPC helps small business owners build successful businesses on a foundation of Christian values. After 20 years in business, and 10 years as a Christian counselor, Sue uses a combination of faith, business and psychology to help clients in business and in life.

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