What makes you rich?
With the New Year in full swing, it is now when we begin the tasks of fulfilling our new resolutions. Were your resolutions to be a better parent, wife, husband, or person? Was it to get a better education, better job and more money? What are your end goals in life? To be rich, famous, have a family, maybe even a large family? What do you hope you will be remembered for if this is your last year of your life? Boy! He made a lot of money, just look at that expensive casket!
That statement puts me in mind of an old joke about a rich man who went to heaven and was pulling a very heavy bag behind him. His steps were labored because the bag was so heavy. It took forever for him to finally reach the pearly gates where the angel told him, “You’ll have to empty that bag.” The man lamented, “You don’t understand, it took me my whole life to get what is in this bag.” “I’m sorry,” the angle said, “You must empty the bag.” reluctantly, the man struggled to upend the bag and dump out the contents. He looked longingly at the pile of gold bricks, then back at the angel to await his reaction. “Great,” the angel sighed, “more paving bricks!”
Don’t you see your riches here on earth are not always recognized by the world as wealth. Your most precious possession, and the only ones you can take from this world, is your family and those you love. Don’t spend your whole life accumulating worldly wealth, while ignoring the truly precious things you have right in front of you. I think one of the best ways to express the measure of success or wealth is in this poem:
Bessie Anderson Stanley’s 1904 poem,
He achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much; Who has enjoyed the trust of pure women, the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children; Who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; Who has never lacked appreciation of Earth’s beauty or failed to express it; Who has left the world better than he found it, Whether an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul; Who has always looked for the best in others and given them the best he had; Whose life was an inspiration; Whose memory a benediction.
And who love the Lord God with all his heart, soul, and mind, would complete the sentiment. Make this year the year you spend enjoying what you have right in front of you and not always yearning for what you do not have.
As parents we need to teach our children that we come into this life with nothing and we will leave this life with what we brought. The most important thing we can do with our lives in between those two events is Laugh often, Be kind to others, And love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind.
We as authors often have our heroines find that they had what they really wanted right in front of them and were too blind to see it clearly. Many times our stories come from our own experiences. I hope that means that we all appreciate what we have, and are thankful for all.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 6:19-21
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
Revelation 21:21
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
I Peter 1:4