share the wealth 2

My parents come from rather humble beginnings. While they were successful business/farm owners they did not start with a lot of resources. As my dad says - I started from scratch and it wasn't even itchy where I scratched. His father and his only brother were killed in a farm accident when dad was only six years old. My mom grew up a middle child in a family of fourteen children. Both parents talk about eating off the land when growing up; lots of fried potatoes and stewed tomatoes along with whatever vegetables and fruits were in season. When they butchered an animal, the entire animal was utilized in some manner.

When my dad was 35, he took the plunge and purchased a farm. He borrowed the money for the down payment and the owner financed the rest. I can remember times when money was in short supply. My mom raised chickens to sell as well as vegetables. The early weeks of July were raspberry picking time. Her and I picked gallons of wild raspberries to sell every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning during raspberry season.

As I reflect on their humble beginnings, two things come to mind for which I am very grateful; gifts that they gave to me. First, I never heard them complain about needing to work hard, about it being unfair that dad did not inherit his home farm. They never talked about the difficulty of life. What they did talk about was their thankfulness for what they had. My dad speaks highly of the people who believed enough in him to help make his dreams possible. There was no bitterness in them toward the poverty from which they came; just a deep sense of gratefulness for what they had.

The second gift has to do with an attitude as well. Both of my parents had a willingness to do whatever it took to realize their dreams. Obstacles were meant to be overcome, not hindrances to which one would yield. They understood that the realization of dreams required personal sacrifice.

Both attitudes, thankfulness and a willingness to do whatever it takes, are sorely lacking in society and the church. Far too frequently people adopt a victim's attitude. They continually feel bitter about their presumed lack of opportunity, complaining about their circumstances. They blame other people for the perceived injustices against them. Obstacles rule their world. They never live in God's mandate to Adam and Eve to subdue the earth. Instead they are subdued by their own circustances.

In their sixty years of marriage, my parents have moved from poverty to a place of financial stability. The attitudes of thankfulness and their willingness to "do whatever it takes" were largely responsible for the transformation. Their example is a tremendous gift to me!