Tuesday, December 31, 2013

I Wanna Be Rich

I want money lots and lots of money!  I wanna be rich!

Now be honest.  Did you just flash back to 1989 and sing those lyrics?  Maybe it's just me.

 

This week my family flew to Phoenix AZ to celebrate Christmas with my family who lives there.  It was quite an expensive trip.  We had to pay for the airfare for 5 people plus suitcases and golf bags.  We had to purchase gifts for 19 people who would be at the Christmas celebration.  We wanted to be able to chip in and cover some meals and groceries.  My husband wanted to golf.  I wanted a mani/pedi while we were there.  It was quite an expensive trip.  My husband is a pastor and we don't make a whole lot.  All of our needs are met but there is not a ton extra at the end of each check so I started selling on eBay for some additional income.  This is what we call our "play" money.  We don't want to overextend ourselves and use it as income because you just never know if it is going to be a good eBay week or a slow one.  We use the play money to take trips and buy fun things for the family.  That is what paid for our entire trip to Disney World and it also funded our most recent trip to Phoenix and bought all of the presents and things.
 
While we were there I went out golfing with my husband.  We were at a VERY nice country club.  The kind with dress codes and things.  This is not typical for us.  It was a big splurge.  We decided to eat lunch in the restaurant on the course.  As we were sitting there, I started to people watch.  It is one of my favorite pastimes.  It drives my husband crazy.  I was watching all of the people who "belonged" there.  You could tell just by looking at them.  They talk different.  They dress different.  They carry themselves different.  You could pick them out as having a boat load of money probably just as easily as you could tell that Matt and I didn't.
 
At one point I leaned over to my husband and made this statement.  "Do you think they realize how blessed they are or do you think that they take it for granted?"
 
As soon as the statement left my mouth the Holy Sprit pricked my heart and asked me the very same question.  "Rachel, do you know how blessed you are or do you take it for granted?"
 
Sometimes it is so easy to compare our lives with others and forget about all of the good things that the Lord has done for us.  It is easy to say "I wanna be rich" and forget that we really already are.  So I am dedicating my last post of 2013 to brag about my wealth!

- I have 3 healthy, beautiful girls
-My husband adores me and treats me like a queen
-My husband has not been hospitalized with his Crohn's disease at all this year
-I do not have cancer
-I have been able to visit with all of my family this year
-I have a great church
-We are debt free
-My parents and grandparents are still alive
-I have a warm dry beautiful house
-I have great friends
-Jesus Christ has redeemed me
-I have a brand new van
-All of my children have accepted Jesus as their Savior
 
The list goes on and on and on  And I wouldn't trade it for any country club membership anywhere!!
 
Blessed,
Rachel



3 comments:

  1. My Father owns everything and I am His heir!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow this was good! While I myself have never said, I repeat "never" I want to be rich, I have and still would like to have enough money to pay off my bills and to be able to help others more! I just think it would be so awesome to be able to give to others secretly and to just watch the looks on their faces but I am content with what God has given me!! When I see some of the bus kids come to church and realize how little they have it breaks my heart that I can't do more for them. I can only give them hugs and attention and make them feel loved while they are here and pray that in some way this will make a difference in their lives It makes me realize how blessed I truly am, I grew up with a mom and dad who loved and cared for me enough to make sure I felt loved and knew God loves me! It is so true, we do take so much for granted!! Thank you Lord for all I have!!! Happy New Year to you and your family and my God continue to bless!

    ReplyDelete