It may sound funny, but I have been thinking lately about how rich I am. I am convinced that growing up where I did, has often given me a false sense of wealth. I've been around the world. I've seen how other people live. I've been inside some of the most beautiful mansions on the cliffs of Del Mar. I've seen children looking through the trash for food in the slums of South Africa. I've seen topless Indians living in wall-less huts in the middle of the jungle.
When we lived in San Diego I must confess that I constantly struggled with comparing myself to the people around me. Usually is was subconsciously. Most of the time I didn't even realize that I was doing it. But since arriving in Kansas Land, for some reason I have become so aware of how silly and foolish I have been all these years to even consider that I have ever been poor. Sure, there have been times, several times actually, throughout our marriage that we have wondered where rent might come from or times when it was just the two of us and we ate bean burritos and pasta for a week simply because that's what we could afford in that moment. For a season we lived in a travel trailer by the beach. And we might even find ourselves doing that again someday. But living in North County, for me, often blinded me to the truth of just how rich I really am.
It's strange, and somewhat embarrassing to admit that there are times in my life that I have dared to think that I am "without." Monetarily I am without a doubt one of the richest people in the whole world. Not because of what's in my bank account. But because I have a pantry full of a variety of foods. Not to mention a refridgerator full of dairy and meats and a freezer full of novelties like Oreo cookie ice cream sandwiches. When I go to wash my dishes, what seems like a never-ending supply of clean water comes flowing out of my faucet. When I go to take a shower, I have hot water and a wide variety of soaps and other "products" that make me feel clean everyday. I have never once been without electricity in my own home. I have a closest full of choices each morning when I get dressed. The home in which I live in is clean and sanitary. When I run out of gas in my car I can always go down the road, pull out my ATM card and fill her up. I have never ever skipped a meal out of a lack of means. My bookshelves are overflowing with books. My garage is filled with "stuff" that I don;t really use. I am so stinkin rich!!! And although these monetary things are at my disposal, they are not truly the things that make me rich at all.
I'm not sure what it is about where we are now... but when I wake up in the morning and I look outside my sliding glass door and I see an endless field of cat tails that have recently turned a glorious green color, I feel like the richest person who ever lived.
When Joey walks in the door each afternoon after a long days work, walks straight up to me and kisses my fore-head and asks me how my day was with his tender, manly voice (I love his voice by the way :), well he just might as well of slipped a giant diamond ring onto my finger, cuz that's how rich my heart feels when he lavishes me with his love.
When my Josiah, goes out of his way to give me a hug on his own initiative, I feel RICH!
When I witness conflict resolution and forgiveness going on between my little pack of treasures, or when I hear them speak a kind word to one another, I wouldn't trade those moments for all the gold in the world.
When Siah and Halee asked Jesus into their hearts I felt like the Lord had lavished on me the gift of an entire kingdom!
My little family loves the Lord and we love are so in love with each other. My husband works hard to put a roof over my head and food on our table. My hope is that he knows that those things never go unnoticed in my heart. The Lord's love for me and the gift that he has given me in the love that my family has for me have truly, truly, truly, made me one of the absolute richest women who have ever lived! Man, I am rich!!!! Those of us who know the Lord... no matter what monetary state we might currently be finding ourselves in, are richer beyond our wildest imaginations! Seriously! I know that with these hard economic times we can often be tempted to think otherwise. But instead, let's challenge ourselves to constantly be mindful of the fact that we are sooo stinkin rich!!!! Cuz, truly, that's what we are!
