Hey mom, are we poor?

[v_clar]

That's the question that came from the back seat of my car the other day on our way to a meeting at our church. My daughter who is 8 asked me if we're poor. How the heck do I answer that?

With the truth. By the standards of the world, yes we are poor. We don't have a lot of money, no fancy cars, or clothes or stuff. We have one 20 year old car, used furniture that has seen better days, our plates are chipped and cracked in places (but still usable) and we don't get to do a lot of the things that we'd like to do. I can't afford school pictures or anything extra. So by those standards, yes, we are poor.

But here's the thing, I tell her, in the most important ways we are rich beyond measure! We have faith, we have Jesus, we have our family, we have love, we have our church family and we have friends that ARE family and that's the most important thing.

What good is it to have money and stuff if you don't have love? No you don't have to have the same religious/spiritual beliefs that I have, just love. Isn't love the most important thing? Are things going to comfort you when you're sad? Or are they going to laugh with you when you're happy? Are things worth dying for? I don't think so.

[vintagechicken]

Apr. 20, 2009 at 1:24 PM

I got that question last year from my now 9 year old son.  I just said, "compared to what?"  You will always find someone with less and you will always find someone with more.   Same with problems. 

[jamiemolihan]

Apr. 20, 2009 at 2:25 PM

You rock. As for your car, it's almost a classic. Just keep that bad boy wheezing along for another five years and you can get special plates. Yeah!! I just bought a 1989 s10 pickup. I love this thing, but now I have to teach my son how to drive a stick. Yeeks. Did you know that men don't automatically know how to drive a stick? I grew up thinking that it was just part of the Y chromosome. Being poor isn't so bad, I grew up with alot of money and then in 1997 my gramps and dad did something bad and we lost everything. I mean everything, the houses, cars, bank accounts, e v e r y t h i n g. So now we are poor. I realized then that we were always poor, just with alot of money. Now I have only a little money (like none) and I feel quite wealthy thankyou very much. And who needs school pics anyway, they just remind us of how silly we looked as kids anyway. I hope you are having a very rich day.

[djmommy2]

Apr. 20, 2009 at 2:36 PM

Good answer, Mom!

[shell81]

Apr. 20, 2009 at 10:34 PM

WOW girl that is exactly how I feel.