I told myself I was going to be positive despite my position this year. In general I am happy. I know God lives and in the eternal perspective of life, I have peace. I don't know how this year is going to unfold yet. I know I can't return gift for gift but that doesn't mean I love anyone less.
When I pray each night and the thought of all those that have made it possible for me to live floods through my mind it delights me with gratitude. When the width of our family follows, I marvel. And, I am beside myself to think of those that are still to come.
I often reflect back on what I have contributed for mankind. Most of my deeds are so small and my mistakes seem so large. Then the real meaning of Christmas comes into focus. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much as to prepare a way to become like Him. Our Older Spiritual Brother loved us enough to volunteer as physical sacrifice to demonstrate the straight and narrow path. He shoulders the weight when we slip. He strengthens us, if we would, to one day face the jaws of hell without fear.
Each of us stands on separate precipices. Our challenges are our own. As we drift in a sea of learning and living someday we will find ourselves standing before all the temptations that can be a threat to life and we will see if our knees are weak.
We love that in which we serve and serve that in which we love. Our bodies are unique tools. We can use them in several ways each demonstrating our devotion. Some people serve money with their bodies. Some serve drugs or rather the feeling drugs give their bodies. Some serve sensations of feelings or physical thrills. But, what really brings peace? Maybe using our bodies to serve life, the greatest gift of all, brings real joy.
As of late I have been confronted with several people that serve their desire for nice things. I am not saying nice things are bad or that working for a goal is bad. What I am saying is that an unused instrument is wasted. If a Stradivarius was never played would it really be a Stradivarius? No. If a graphite Fenwick fly fishing rod was never used dose it feed anyone? Where in is it's value? Where in is it's true joy?
I know several people that have counseled me on my families care of their expensive things. They have assumed that I have not instilled in my kids the importance of respect. Their demeanor suggests that I shun work and taught my kids likewise. I started working when I was 12. I helped dad clean the church and mow the lawns, I delivered papers, cleaned meat cutting equipment, flipped burgers, unloaded trucks, mopped bathrooms, worked in several garden shoppes, repaired thousands of computers, drove a few pizzas, prepared financial statements for multiple companies, designed a few companies even, I was worth an aggregate amount of 3.4 million dollars of which I sat on a 2.4 million potential after 12 years of effort. I held the paperwork for 8 months waiting for reality to catch up to me. When reality caught up it informed me that I wasted 12 years.
What I really learned is that money means nothing. Work means everything. Working for others means even more. I also learned that greed binds the hands of labor.
In Sunday school we learn that God needs our hands. No... we need to learn to love eternal life to receive the fulness of Gods gifts for us. We do this by serving in mortal life the things that sustain and expand life. Mr. Limbaugh has said many time on the air that he doesn't accept discounts on new merchandise knowing that someone else has put effort and upfront money into those products and they need fair compensation. Maybe we need to think similarly.
I have heard "Hard Workers" complain how "The Poor" take everything they are offered. "Don't they think of others or tomorrow?" When you reach the bottom it is easy to see what is real. The thing that is most real... is establishing something to control. Orphans often steal dinner rolls and fruit and hide them in their beds just to control some security for the next day.
What is really funny is the difference between the professional poor and the real poor. The real poor don't have marketing agents. They don't look the part all the time. If someone gives them a new looking shirt they are often overlooked for the professional poor who lives tax free in their condo when not "working".
"Judge not that ye be not judged"
One last thought. many rich people have given the poor their junk to avoid the cost of disposing of it themselves. Some do it in ignorance others not so. What a way to make a buck? If what you give has little or inflated value expect little gratitude. The rules of marketing don't change with poverty.
