I grew up rich ... but I didn't know it. Maybe you did, too.
Money was tight at our house all through my growing-up years. Frills were scarce, but my friends had none, either, so I considered that normal. Besides, most people we knew shared a similar life situation. More than I knew then, my father and mother shook hands with struggle every day. Through it all, they coped, mostly with a smile. I only knew that our family life revolved around the church my dad pastored, and people loved my parents.
Like every child of every time, I remained unimpressed.
I knew my mom and dad loved each other, they loved us and they loved God. That was bedrock and never wavered, not even when my newborn brother died, or during my mom's illnesses.
I knew I could count on what they said. They told it like it was, even when I didn't want to hear.
By today's standards my parents and teachers were unenlightened. They never assured me my life would be wonderful. In fact, they said to expect life to be hard, because life was hard for everyone. But, they said, but ... life always would be worth the effort, worth the stumbles and failings and the starting over, and God is faithful.
When my husband and I met, we two advantaged kids fell hard. We married, reared our daughters, and coped with ... whatever. Through the predicted stumbles and starting overs, we held hands. As promised, God was faithful. Life was--and is--good.
These days who can escape the bad news? Like everyone else we track the financial ups and downs and like most people, do some quaking and a lot of praying. Then we smile at each other, grateful for life itself and each day we share. We remind each other of what's important: We are rich ... in all the ways that matter. God is good.
How about you? How rich are you--in all the ways that matter?
Take a few moments to inventory your fortune. Maybe your childhood memories hurt. Then leave it behind and concentrate on providing your own children with a legacy. May you be rich!
Lenore
Your comments welcomed!!
