When Is Enough, Enough
Today’s society is caught up in the quest for more, and people have lost sight of when enough is enough. Parents work long hours to give their children everything but time. People sacrifice for retirement, only to lose their health and/or lives before they can enjoy it. There has to be a happy medium. We must seek balance.
William Wordsworth once said, “The world is too much with us late and soon. Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers.” That was written in the 1800s. I shudder to think what he would say today. Since I retired, I have worked in estate sales, and I am awed by what people own and no one wants. Big houses stand empty and alone.
I wonder as I write this how much money has been invested in eternity. Have you been too busy to attend your child’s special occasions and events, or to have a meal each day together? When you are gone, what will your children remember? Leaving behind a pile of money will probably not make up for lost time. We all want our children to have enough. We must determine what that is.
Have you spent time with aging parents? When they are gone, will you have regrets? I wish I had asked more questions, and called more. and certainly, visited more.
How much have you invested in ministry? Whether you are a churchgoer or not, there are so many in need. Have you helped Veterans, the homeless, or the sick? Or, do your time and money go toward getting and spending and adding to your pleasure and possessions? No one begrudges you for what you have, but so many are in need. Ministry requires more than taking your used clothes to a giveaway center. How much time have you given to others whether through your church or generosity?
I hope you will take a moment to evaluate. Life is entirely too short to waste. Remember that the journey is short, and you do not know when you will take your last breath. What legacy will you leave behind? How will you be remembered?
A few suggestions:
- Plug into your church or find one. The eternal rewards are far more worthwhile.
- Check with Charity Navigators to see how they rate charities, and how to see that your money is well spent.
- Donate your time, even if it is only to sit with an elderly person alone in a restaurant or take time to hold a door for someone. Look around; the possibilities are endless.
Happy hunting as you seek ways to extend your enough to others.
