What Is It All About?

The Parable of the Rich Fool by Rembrandt, 1627. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Normally, when I blog, I try not to get preachy. However, the sermon from church this morning really resonated.

I come from a family that is not rich. Granted, we are not poor. We’re a typical, middle class family living paycheck to paycheck like most people. Like most people, we dream of a day when we will have more; more money, nicer car, bigger house, etc….we live in the land of “when we…” and “someday….”.

This morning, Father Gus ministered on Luke 12: 13-21. It’s a parable of the rich fool. Basically, it’s the story of a man who built so much that he needed bigger space to store all he had. Then he died. He didn’t get to enjoy any of it.

How does this resonate?

I’ve known people who’ve felt it was their place to stand in judgment of me. They comment on how many times I take my family out to eat. They comment on how much money I spend on what I call “little luxuries”, such as single serving items and convenience items. They talk about how much they have and how foolish I am that I have not focused on saving for my future.

So be it. They’re right. I would rather buy single servings of cottage cheese rather than buying a large container and packing it up each day. I do spend an occasional dollar on a convenience item, makeup and the like. And I do like to take my family out to eat and spend time together away from the home.

However, I feel like I’m investing in the here and now! I do a lot with my children. We go to the mall, to the movies and we go out to eat. But during these times, we have the most amazing conversations, we share thoughts and ideas and bare our souls to each other. I believe in these times. And I believe during these times, I actually am investing in their future by instilling wisdom and building trust.

Can anyone put a price on relationships?

I wish I could stockpile money and have loads. But would it be worth it if that meant my relationships paid the price? Someone told me recently that I should take a second job to build a good financial future for myself as well as for my children. They tried to convince me that I should do whatever it takes to get everything for my children.

What parent would not want to do everything for their children? I should take a second job to pay for all they want. I should take a second job to pay so my mom would not ever have to worry about money. But that would reduce me to being a part-time weekend Mom. And I want to ask this person if they think that’s all my children deserve? Is that what my mom deserves? And isn’t that what’s wrong with so many kids these days – parents are trying to get more and so the kids wind up raising themselves!

No! I will not do it! I will not work to the point of not enjoying my family and enjoying my children. Not that I haven’t brooked the question. I have asked my girls what they think about me working a second job so they can have the music lessons they want. They both gave me a resounding “NO!!!”. They would rather have time with me.

As for a bigger house, it’s interesting to me what “bigger” means. Some years ago, a friend from New Zealand came and stayed with me. As I showed her my “small” house, she asked if I was rich. My house is the type of house that apparently rich people live in New Zealand.

So then “wealth” becomes a matter of perspective. In the parable, the rich man defined his wealth by what he had and all he had in store for his future. I know someone like that – who puts their wealth in dollars and cents. But they have no one to share it with. And they’re not generous with it, either. They use it to build nothing so they have nothing. Should they die tomorrow, all their thousands will sit in the bank for nothing except to bury them. There is no legacy in that.

While my wealth is in my family; my relationships, my children, my life. I don’t have a lot of money but I have family who are my best friends and I have two girls who are the best part of my life always. Together, we’ve made a storehouse of memories and have had a wealth of laughter.

Money vs life.

I’ll choose life every single time. And leave a legacy of love, laughter and wisdom behind me.