When our daughter, Anna, was 14 years old, she was a freshman in high school. She got her first job that year. Shakes Frozen Custard in Webb City, Missouri. I remember her interviewing over the phone when we were in Arkansas. She was with me that day when I was coaching basketball. We had to get a special provision signed by the school superintendent saying that she was capable of working. Missouri has a law in place that’s protecting children from child labor issues. She was only allowed to work a certain amount of hours per week and also to a certain time in the evening. I think it was 20 hours a week and to 7 PM. I also remember her not wanting to get a job. But she had a choice, school activity or job. So she chose to go to work. Track season was over and volleyball had not started yet.
Obviously, she wasn’t driving then. So her mother or I took turns taking her to work and then picking her up. We were together when we picked her up one day. It was the day that she received her first paycheck. She was in the backseat of the van. Barbara and I both were concerned that she was going to be upset about not making much money for working as much as she had. But just the opposite happened. It was actually pretty awesome. She’s in the backseat opening her check up with us anticipating frustration. And what we heard was…”$115! I GOT $115!!!!” She was so excited. We were excited for her. In her eyes she was rich. She was learning the rewards of hard work. She thought she had hit the jackpot. She really was thrilled. Makes me question us as adults. What is it that we view as wealth? What do we consider valuable?
I’m sure we have different definitions of what wealth is. I think that probably depends on who you ask. Obvious answers here would include someone that is wealthy, being someone that has financial wealth. But I wonder if someone that has large amounts of financial wealth, would consider themselves wealthy. See what I mean? I think it depends on who you ask. I’m sure if you would’ve asked Anna on that paycheck day, she would’ve thought she was wealthy. And what about things of value? What do you consider valuable? Land? Automobiles? Houses? Think about it. Once again, I think it depends on who you ask. We probably all have different definitions what is valuable. But no matter what we consider wealth to be, or what is of value, there really is one thing we should believe across the board. We should consider that whatever God blesses us with, that those blessings are considerable wealth and value. Doesn’t have to be money. Doesn’t have to be property. But his blessings are exactly what we need. And therefore, we should consider ourselves wealthy in that sense.
