The time came, and I picked him up at his office.  I noticed that he didn’t want me to come in, because there was no furniture.  We started out with some ideas I had, based on the things that were important to him, such as style, area, outer look of the house, etc.  As we continued, I noticed that he wasn’t satisfied in looking in the areas that were within his specified financial limits.  He was gravitating to the high-end areas that were beyond his grasp.  No matter how accurate I was in finding what I thought he wanted, it wasn’t good or cool enough. 

We stopped at his friend’s house so I could really see what he wanted.  This was what I call a “FAFA” home.  It had everything you can imagine.  The most elite, high-tech equipment, luxurious carpets, cushy furniture, and the yard was amazingly immaculate.  “Ah,” he said, “this is what I want!”  As he sat there with his rich friend, that old phrase, “keeping up with the Jones’” went through my mind.  I had actually believed this guy was serious when he gave me his list of what he wanted in a home, but now I realized that he wanted to have something that was not yet affordable to him.

So, I told him this wasn’t in the price range he told me, and he didn’t want to hear that!  We hurried out the door, and it seemed he needed to get back to his office.  Without a thank you, he was off.

I learned something that day.  We all seek for things that we think will make us happy, but happiness isn’t in things, it is in people.  I’ve had my share of things.  In fact, many things.  I can assure you that happiness does not come from sitting in an elegant home, driving a cool car, or getting on a private jet to go somewhere.  I’ve done all that.  It comes from knowing who you are, what your goals are, and striving to become the best person you can be.  It is living life to its fullest by serving others and enjoying the fact that maybe you’ve helped someone by easing their burden in some way.  It is being at peace with yourself, and having a clear conscience.  It is a feeling that you can cope with the challenges before you, and having faith that if you are prayerful, the Lord will be with you and make you better and not bitter. 

A friend of mine told me, “Money can buy comforts, but not happiness.”  He’s so right!  Happiness is something we earn, but cannot buy.  The following quote by Hugh Prather is a great thought, especially for people who may think a little like the guy I showed homes to…

“The number of things just outside the perimeter of my financial reach remains constant no matter how much my financial condition improves.  With each increase in my income, a new perimeter forms and I experience the same relative sense of lack.  I believe that I would be happy if only my earnings were increased by so much and I could then have or do these few things I can’t quite afford.  But when my income does increase, I find I am still unhappy because from my new financial position I can now see a whole new set of things I don’t have.  The problem will be solved when I realize that happiness is a present attitude, and not a future condition.”

Even though we all should seek financial stability for ourselves and our children, we should remember that having sufficient for our needs is the goal, not to have showcases for our egos!  We can have a little piece of heaven right now on earth by acquiring it with our attitudes, not our money.

Jay

I am your constant companion.

I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden.

I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.

I am completely at your command.

Half the things you do, you might as well turn over to me,

And I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.

I am easily managed, you must merely be firm with me.

Show me exactly how you want something done,

And after a few lessons I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of all great men,

And alas of all the failures as well.

Those who are great, I have made great.

Those who are failures, I have made failures.

I am not a machine, though I work with the precision of a machine,

Plus the intelligence of a man.

You may run me for profit, or run me ruin,

It makes no difference to me.

Take me, train me, be firm with me,

And I will put the world at your feet.

Be easy with me, and I will destroy you.

Who am I?

I AM HABIT