Beyond Riches

In being asked this week to discuss the best 3 things money can't buy my knee-jerk reaction was immediately to think of my children.  My children, Ava and Elijah, are the greatest reward I have received in my lifetime.  I'm one of those women who from very early on knew that I wanted to be a mother.  What greater joy could there be than being an active participant in what I personally believe to be one of the biggest everyday miracles we are allowed to see here on Earth?  Creation is fascinating and mystical to me.  These two very specific children are here because God ordained them to be and for no other reason.  I'm honored to be their mother and I take the role seriously.   

Psalms 139:13
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."

Jeremiah 1:5
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

How cool is that?!  I love the concept that we were perfectly created and He knew us even before we were in our mother's womb. 

The second best thing in my life is probably my relationships with friends and family.  I'm a very social bird and without the constant influx of human interaction which my day entails I'm fairly certain I would have already ended up in a straight jacket or tied down in 5-point restraints somewhere.  People are my therapy.  I am fortunate to have surrounded myself with a witty, wise, kind, and compassionate group of people.  We are all straight shooters and tell even the hard stuff to one another, but in the kindest of ways.  My family- mother, sister, aunts, and extended family- are exceptional people.  I realize this is a little onesided, but I promise... they are.  I've never had to doubt their love for me or their desire for my peace and wellbeing, just as I desire for them.  My circle of girlfriends is a lovely mixture of women from all walks and we thoroughly enjoy sucking the marrow out of life.  We are completely, overly analytical and most of our visits turn into therapy sessions or future blog topics.  I've surrounded myself with people who have the same love for Jesus that I do and it's comforting to have that common ground to gather upon and regroup. 

The final item in my list would have to be "peace".  Peace is something which I couldn't put a price on, and quite frankly, has been absent in my life for several years now.  Peace is a desire which I have for myself and one that God and I discuss often.  In the last 16 months my father- whom I adored- passed away from a very unpleasant, rare, and cruel disease called CBD (corticobasal degeneration is much like Parkinson's and Alzeheimers) then four months later my husband of 9 years had me served with divorce papers.  The last year and a half has without a doubt been the most trying of my entire adult life.  I've had my moments of weepiness and "Why me, God?" and I'm certain that without my two above mentioned blessings (children and friends/family) I would have crumbled into a ball of despair.  The comfort in going through stress and trauma as a Christian is that I always know I'm not alone and I always know- even when it feels far away- that there is an ultimate plan for my life.  I know God wants His children to be blessed and to have prosperous lives.  I hold on to that promise.  No, as one who has been without it on a consistent basis for a while now, I can promise you that peace can't be bought and it is something I actively and prayerfully work to achieve. 

It is those things in my life which money can't buy that have taken on the greatest importance and value.  God bless each of you.  May He remind you this week of what is truly important.