Being rich is all about money, right? If you have enough money you've got it made, right?
Or maybe not. If that were true all the "rich and famous" folks would have perfect marriages and happy, well-adjusted children.
And all the rest of us would be miserable. That's not true, either.
Still, it's a question worth thinking about: What spells "rich" to you? Or your children?
As always, it comes down to perspective
Not long ago I overheard two men at the next table in a coffee shop.
The younger man said, "Right now our life is pretty basic, no extras.
"Silvie and I met when we were full-time college students and working part-time jobs. She got her diploma a year ago and found a job that pays well. After our daughter's birth I graduated to being a stay-at-home dad--and I'm loving it.
"Now I'm taking the rest of my college classes at night and online, so it will take me longer to get my degree. If you said we're broke you'd be right, but we're happy."
The older man laughed and said, "Hey, that's the way it's supposed to be when you're starting out, Kyle. How did you get so wise?"
Father knows best
Kyle took time to think, then said, "Well, a long time ago my dad gave me advice he guaranteed would help make for a happy marriage.
"He said my wife and I should always make sure we could get by on one income. That way if one of us couldn't work, we'd still be fine. So that's what we're doing. We don't have a huge flat-screen TV, just one passed on when my folks upgraded to a bigger set. Our furniture is Goodwill and hand-me-downs. We drive a clunker and our cell phones are dinosaurs.
"And you know what? Neither of us would trade places with anybody. We're paying our bills, we're working our plan, and we're doing what matters to us. We have each other and our healthy daughter. Life is good."
As they got up to leave I heard the older man say, "You probably already know that your dad was a very wise man, my friend. And good for you, you know you are blessed. Not everyone does. "
Some of us can identify with that young dad
My husband and I married when we were young and crazy in love. We were so happy to be together that nothing else mattered. We lived pretty much a no-frills lifestyle. I wouldn't say we "lived on love," but sometimes it was close.
Who cared? We were together and life was good. It still is.
We knew then what's been proven true over and over. Riches have nothing to do with money.
Growing up rich
When I was a kid money was always tight, so my parents became experts in stretching it. I don't remember lots of complaining, just lots of creativity.
It simply was our life and we lived it. All along we trusted God to provide and He did.
Now I know we were rich in what matters most.
- We kids knew for sure was that our mom and dad loved each other and they loved us--even though they seldom said so.
- We never doubted they were speaking truth, either to us or to others.
- We never wondered whether one parent or the other would walk out on us.
What makes the difference
By now I've learned that life gets even better when we know we're blessed and remember to thank the Giver.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Ps. 118:1
True wealth is a matter of the heart. At least, that's how I see it. How about you?
Warmly,
Lenore
