I'm struggling to keep my blog going. But here is a comment I posted on Lin's blog post about her daughter buying gifts for a mom and her kids who needed extra help. Yay Em!
Alex isn't getting anywhere near all the stuff he has marked off in the toy catalogues. But he has a train coming so he will not notice. My son in Milwaukee said he would come down for the weekend but that he had no gifts for anyone not to mention dr bills from being sick for 2 months. His presence would be my gift. His health at this point, the best gift.
And then there is my little story of my friend who grew up with nothing-he said eggs and beans were luxuries and tortillas were mostly all the 9 kids ever had to eat. To this day he lives minimal. He calls me rich. I live paycheck to paycheck (he was laid off in 2008 and still is lucky to get a temp job paying min. once in awhile) but have a nice house and a safe job (for now). I feel poor. Then there is my boss who has no problem going out to eat every night, can buy and pay for a new car on a whim while I pray my job lasts long enough to pay off mine, doesn't worry about spending more than $40 on ea grocery trip, buys her grandkids every electronics thing they want and thinks she is poor. And then there is the guy they do work for who is selling his company for $70 mil (they started it 30 years ago in their garage-no not Apple!) who makes $4 mil a year who she wants to be like and THEN she'll be happy-he's a jerk who looks down on others. Out of everyone I respect my poorest friend the most because knowing his family and the love and kindness they give, he is by far the richest of us all.
Merry Christmas to everyone.
This Christmas I know the best gifts are those that come from the heart, not the store.
The friend who takes you to the doctor, cooks for you when you are sick or just need a lunch for work or drives you to work when your car needs repair and your only other choice is 2 hours each way on 3 buses.
The friend who makes you laugh when you both hate your jobs and you look back and realize God was giving you near-misses for over 30 years since high school but had you meet when you needed each other the most.
The bloggy pallies who check on you when you don't post in awhile.
The kid whose presence is the real gift after being sick for 2 months.
The friend who drives 7 hours just to take you to lunch to celebrate your bachelor's degree.
The friends you are making when you get out and discover your own town.
The kiddo who makes you giggle right along with him...every day.
5 comments:
Helene....this is your best post EVER!! I loved it!!
And, you are so right...I think that no matter how much money someone has, they are always going to feel poor if they compare themselves to someone richer than them.
The only way to not "feel poor" is to compare yourself to someone who is not as well off as you are!! :)
Haha no sooner do I write about the $4 mil dollar man than he walks in our office this morning.
Being healthy, happy and loved is the best present, ever. I wish you a very merry Christmas!
Helene, You have put the season into proper perspective. Thank you so much for sharing these thoughts and insights. Wealth is not measured by bank balances or real estate holdings. It comes from a contented heart that is filled with and surrounded by love.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
...and that is what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
:)
There are far more important things in this life than packages. This is a great post, Helene!
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