Two years ago Karen and I decided to add an in-law suite onto our house and my parents moved up from Florida. Now they live right on the other side of a french door. They refer to themselves as "Frank and Marie", as in the television show, "Everybody Loves Raymond." They really aren't like that and it has been wonderful having them so close. Karen is finishing up her graduate degree at Kent State and on the nights she has class I slip over to my mom's for dinner. Whenever my mom runs out of an ingredient she sneaks over and raids our pantry. They call our house "the store" and I call their house "the restaurant". It works out famously. This past month was the last month on the lease of our daughter and son-in-law's apartment. They are not sure where their job might take them so they have moved in along with our grandson Liam. Rachel and Will have put a bunch of stuff in storage and moved into Rach's old room. So far, it is a blast. We now have four generations under the same roof. Who would have ever thought? At least some of this has been driven by the economic downturn. It has impacted my parents and their savings, and my children and their ability to find a job. Karen and I are in the middle. At this moment we have less and more than we had a year ago. We have less money and more people in our house. I have seen people who have all kinds of stuff and no loving relationships. Right now I feel very wealthy. Everything I hold dear is right here in my house and I just wanted to go on record that I am very thankful.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
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6 comments:
I'm the youngest of four and our family always struggled to make ends meet. I remember having dinner one evening at our kitchen table and my dad describing his boss' enormous house in Bratenahl, with its cathedral ceilings and furniture too expensive to sit in. He said his boss had more money than he knew what to do with. But his wife left him and his daughter committed suicide. My dad looked at his wife and kids sitting around the table and said, "I'm the richest man in the world."
I have my two sons and sometimes
two grandsons with me in my two bedroom apt. due also to the economic times and job loss by one of my sons. Sometimes we all have felt discouraged about the situation. But after reading this -I am feeling quite blessed. Thanks for opening my eyes to my riches!
Next time, I am feeling down, I will remember how blessed we really are by being together!
Great post Joe. I agree totally!
Night John-Boy.
Joe, this post speaks "volumes" on what should be more important and valuable to us as Christians in the culture around us.
True "worth" or "value" is NOT in how much "stuff" we own or accumulate. Nor in having the latest electronic gadgets on the market.
It's all about "relationship" rather than "retailship", (I don't even think that's in the dictionary!)because those we love and the days or hours of time alloted to us to spend with them in this life is limited. Then, in perspective, the time with the loved ones in your home and in mine is "priceless" compared to having more of the "stuff" of the world.
Brings to mind a statement that our Lord Jesus gave in Luke 12:15,
"Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
It should consist of his love for God first and above all and then his relationships with family and Christ's church.
you are indeed a "rich" man! :)
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