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Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Poor (10/25/04)
TITLE: Rich in Love
By Clay Drysdale
10/30/04
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As we were driving through one of the more affluent neighborhoods in our city recently, I had a valuable lesson taught to me, by means of my seven-year-old daughter. As she was admiring the large houses, she remarked that we could never live a house like one of these.

I wasn't quite sure how to take her remark. I knew that I could either be mad and hurt at her words, or I could try to make a teaching experience out of this. With an upbeat tone I told her, "You're right, we can't afford one of these houses RIGHT NOW, but who knows, maybe someday we can."

I don't think she really grasped my message. She was comparing what she believes we have to what the people in this neighborhood appeared to have. "It just seems like we don't have much."

My wife and I both try hard to provide for our children, so these words cut deeply. As we continued to drive, my attitude was dropping off the charts. We probably won't ever be able to afford one of these houses, I thought to myself. Why can't WE live a neighborhood like this?

I decided to put my hurt aside and make one more attempt at helping my daughter understand one of the great facts of life. "We could have more 'things',” I told her, “but it would be at the expense of other 'things'. If your mother had a job somewhere, we would have more money, but that would mean she wouldn't be able to stay at home and teach you and your brother," (we homeschool our children). I believe she understood the sacrifice involved if my wife took a job outside our home, however I don't think she was fully satisfied. Oh well…

We have made a choice to live on one income, and I believe it has been the right choice for our family. Sure, that means that sometimes we won't have the newest car, the most fashionable designer clothes, or the latest high-tech gadgets. However, we do have two thriving children with their mother’s love surrounding them each day. There’s nothing else that can replace that.

While we may not be rich financially, we are abundant in love.