A good name is more desirable than great riches;  to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all.
Proverbs 22:1-2 

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During my husband’s funeral service, each of my three children spoke. Not a single story was about his salary or an object he bought them. My daughter shared the story of the time they built a garden bridge together. He taught her how to work the power tools and encouraged her to use them. That bridge still stands in my garden. 

My middle son mentioned a time when they were walking through the winter streets of Chicago, and Scott gave a homeless man the gloves right off his hands. He did it so in stride that he continued their conversation as if nothing had interrupted it.  

My youngest son appreciated the long hours driving to another state once a week to wrestle with an elite club. His dad didn’t want him driving home by himself, too tired after a strenuous workout. 

Money is nice, but a quality character is priceless. You can bless people with money, and you can also bless people with a gift of self. My seven-year-old granddaughter has zero money, yet she recently gave me a priceless gift that left me in tears—a Disney princess hug. That means she did not relax or let go until I did during our goodbye hug. It was a long hug. What a blessing. She is already becoming a loving person of good character.

 Sometimes, as we challenge ourselves to become better people and more Christlike, we get too hard on ourselves. Perhaps you have been kind today in little ways.  Or you have been reliable towards the people depending on you. Maybe you have been generous with your time. When you perform these small acts, you are building a good reputation with each act of service and care. You can relax, breathe, and know God sees your good works.  If you have gotten off track, it is easy enough to recalibrate back to what is really important. Give the gift of time to the people in your sphere of influence.  Listen to them and respond to their needs. Be honest and truthful. Follow through on promises and live in gratitude while praising God.

Próximos pasos

Sometimes we get caught up in accumulating money and material goods, but frequently we get worried about our budget and not having enough to spare. An unhealthy obsession in either direction diverts your attention away from God and the things that truly matter. Do you show Jesus? Consider that question as you listen to this song: Jamie Grace – Show Jesus (Official Lyric Video)