#24 Success and Happiness

Sweethearts, many people are so obsessed with these three things: money, fame, and power.  Greatness has nothing to do with being beautiful, being popular, or even being wealthy.

Imagine this.  Professional basketball players (NBA) make millions of dollars per year, which translates to over $500+ per hour income if they were to work a 40 hours per week  job.  Per hour!   If you put yourselves in their shoes, these pro players have everything that most people can only dream:  they are über famous with tons of die-hard fans around the world, they drive expensive cars, living in multiple mansions, fly private jets, wear designer clothes, many are good-looking, and many worked hard to get to where they are today.  Yet, many have broken marriages, committed suicides, involved in drugs and narcotics, broken relationships, depression, etc.

Now, there is nothing wrong with being wealthy, being popular, being successful, or being beautiful.  In fact, your dad always says that the only people who say "money can't buy happiness" are most likely people who are poor themselves.   Money is not the root of all evil.  The love of money IS.  If you are poor, you are a burden to others, but if you have money, then you can take care of your family, go on vacations with your loved ones, live comfortably, and have the opportunity and ability to help other people.

But what makes life miserable is when you ignore life's important ingredients.  The important things that make up a great life are peace of mind, pure joy, great relationships, love, the blessings of health, and especially being in good standing with God.

#5 What's the Purpose of Buying That?

At the time of writing this, Coach handbags or purses are so popular these days, it's mind-boggling.  People everywhere whined about "hard times of recessions," yet some of the same folks are also waiting in a long line at the mall to get the new $300-$500 Coach purse.  (Perhaps ten or twenty years from today, $300 may not mean much, due to inflation, but for comparison, today's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.  The cost of one of these "luxury purse" is about one week pay.  $300 can feed a family of four for a month).

These handbags are made in China.  There is really nothing special about it other than status symbol.  These people want others to envy their status.

Please for your own sake, and so that you won't make your grandparents roll in their graves, ask yourself about 1,024 times when standing in front of one of these stores: "What's the Purpose of Me Buying That?"   If your purpose is a status symbol, to make others jealous, to be liked by other Coach fans, know that we still have that special wooden paddle hidden somewhere in the house.  You may be a grown up, but you are still our baby, and we love you :).  The good news is we know that you know better. 

"Measure your wealth by who you are, rather than what you have." ~ Carol Trabelle.

Matthew 6:20 - "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."