When my husband and I were first married, we had very different views when it came to money. If the bills are paid — and they always were — and there was no money left in the bank, as far as Rob was concerned, we were fine. Nowadays, there’s always money left in the bank. When we were first married … well, that was another story.
Me? I would watch the bank account total decrease and my anxiety level would rise. As the money disappeared, so did my security. One day Rob asked me, “How much money do you need left in the bank to make you feel secure?”
I looked at the pre-bill paying total and said, “Just a little bit more than what’s in there right now.”
Back then I equated our financial status with being rich or being poor. And I wasn’t even aiming for super-rich. I just wanted to be comfortable. I wanted to not worry . . . I didn’t want to come close to feeling poor.
I’ve learned being rich or being poor has nothing — absolutely nothing — to do with the bottom line of your bank statement. That kind of status is based on monetary ups and downs that sometimes we don’t even have control over.
Tell me who your friends are — not how many friends you have — and I’ll know what kind of wealth you have in your life. Tell me who loves you … and we will both begin to see the true riches of your life.
In Others’ Words: How do you define wealth? Who adds richness to your life?
[Tweet “In Others’ Words: The Riches of Love #InOthersWords #lifequotes #love”] [Tweet “”Who, being loved, is poor?” #lifequotes #OscarWilde #love”]
My novel, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, releases today! I’m celebrating with a Beach Bag Giveaway. Enter to win lots of fun stuff worh $200, including:
a Nikon CoolPix Camera
a Lands’ End canvas bag
2 beach towels
a Contigo water bottle
a copy of Crazy Little Thing Called Love
a copy of Somebody Like You
[Tweet “Celebrate @bethvogt’s new release Crazy Little Thing Called Love! Enter the #beachread #giveaway http://bit.ly/1JtPxpn”]
Comments 6
It’s the end of the day,and I’m not only alive, but still on my feet, more or less (bent double and kind of shuffling sideways, but who’s looking?).
I’m wealthy beyond compare.
Author
And I am thankful to say you share your wealth with others, Andrew. You have enriched my life.
Beautiful post, Beth.
Andrew, nobody’s looking. Praying for you.
Beth, I’m so excited about Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Sounds like another great story! Congratulations!
Author
Thank you, Jackie!
After reading and pondering your post, I freshened my coffee and sat down with my Bible to prepare a worship set for tomorrow morning’s study in Ephesians. The passage began as follows: “In Him [Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” (Eph 1:7,8) Riches without equal.
And to my right sits a photo announcement of my daughter-in-law’s graduation from the University of Washington along with three hand written cards: one for me, one for my husband (a Father’s Day card), and one addressed to us both. This beautiful, bright young woman has known much family pain and disappointment, and a lack of unconditional love that’s left a hole in her heart. As I reread her outpouring of love and gratitude for our presence in her life, I was touched and humbled.
How amazing it is when we get to pass on those “riches of God’s grace” to others only to have them returned a hundredfold. Everyone within the scope of His grace can know a true and constant net worth. Now, there’s something to take hold of; that’s a bottom line I can rest upon.
Thank you for leading me to gratitude this morning, Beth. May your day be richly blessed.
Author
Thank you, Bernadette, for encouraging me today to have a grateful heart.