A couple weeks ago after seeing Santa, I handed my munchkin a dollar to put in the Salvation Army bucket. The munchkin in his adorable innocence asked why we were donating money. The "gentleman" overheard my child and before I could blink told my child that "the money is to help buy presents for little boys and girls whose parents are not WEALTHY like your parents." I capitalized
wealthy because he over annunciated it and glared at us when he spoke the word.
I was livid. First of all, I am not a fan of someone judging me or my family. Second, both handsome dimpled husband and I work two jobs each...and then the really interesting homerun of facts, HDH and I both have jobs were we are public servants. I am a teacher and he is in law enforcement. In case you haven't been aware, neither one of us make big bucks in our careers. And the more I thought about it, the more I got mad. I was mad because "that man" didn't know us, and here he was telling my son things he had no idea about.
AND THEN... one day when I was wasting too much time contemplating complaining and writing a hateful letter to whomever would listen to my bitterness I had a couple of revelations.
First: That man doesn't know me or my family. He has no idea about us. He doesn't know that the reason we were there that day is because I was out of school for a snow day or that HDH was enjoying his day off by spoiling us and taking us to all the free festivities that Bass Pro offers at Christmas. He doesn't know that I work 7 days a week. He has no idea how hard we work for our family.
Second: Maybe... Maybe ... he was right. Just not in the way that he thought. I do not have a ton of money. We are able to pay our bills and put food on our table, which in itself is a form of wealth compared to many others.
BUT...
We are blessed in a safe and warm home with landlords who are like family.
We are able to provide for ourselves and make our ends meet.
We do have a family where if there is a problem, we sit down and discuss it without yelling and without disrespect.
We do have a home full of love and forgiveness.
I am rich that I have not one, but two handsome dimpled boys with my munchkin and my husband.
I am lucky to have two sides of family that I adore.
I am blessed that my son is healthy, kind, and has a heart and spunk like none other.
We are wealthy in happiness.
I am blessed that each and every night when we say family prayers that my heart swells so much I nearly cry.
My HDH works hard and thinks of us and our needs before his desires.
So, I guess that hateful bellringer was right, we are wealthy. We aren't wealthy in ways that can be monetarily measured but in happiness and love. Guess I need to stop being so thin skinned and focus on what is important.
