What's it Worth?
I live in California - a beautiful state. The weather is perfect, (in my city whose motto is "Climate is best by government test") the average year-round temperature is 72 degrees. Within a short drive I can go to the ocean, to mountains, to the snow (during winter of course), so we don't have to travel very far to enjoy any of the seasons and there are so many great vacation spots.
We have visited Columbia several times (in California - I don't even have a passport) where there is a beautiful park with a lot of attractions like horseback riding, picnicking, candy stores, panning for gold, nice big trees, and great weather. About 20 years ago on one of our family vacations we went to Columbia to the park and we were having a great time - we had gone horseback riding, we brought our picnic lunch, we bought candy and as we were checking out the gold panning area - we were watching as people were at various stations along the water actually panning for gold. Our youngest son (4 years old at the time) was also intrigued with what the people were doing, and so he walked up to see what they were getting out of the water, when he spotted a little glass vial (filled with water and gold specks that resembled glitter), which he quickly picked up and before we could stop him, he dumped it back into the water...oops! The man's jaw dropped, he was perturbed (to say the least) and let us know that it had taken him 1 1/2 hours to pan that gold! We apologized and then sped away (we were glad he didn't try to make us pay him the $$ the gold was worth)!
While watching the news the other day, they showed a video of a man that caught a foul ball at a professional baseball game whose daughter in turn got the ball and threw it back! Just like my son, she had no idea of the value or potential worth of this professional baseball. It was a ball, so the natural thing was to throw it - and what a good girl - she was giving it back. My son had no idea that there was gold in the vial - he was watching as the people panning for gold were filling and emptying water - so he did the same thing - not knowing its worth.
These children of course were completely innocent in their actions - but how often do we discard things of great worth because they just aren't worth anything to us or because we simply do not realize their worth? Most people are willing to pay the price if something is worth getting. We have all heard the saying "one man's junk is another man's treasure," but the truth is we should all make sure we know and prioritize our treasures. There are some things that just can't be replaced - sure that man at the baseball game may never catch another foul ball at a baseball game, but with all the publicity he received the ball team may have given him another ball; and that man whose gold my son spilled out could have stayed and panned for more gold - and found it...but what about the real treasures?
Time - once a moment has passed you can never get it back; treasure your time (and the time you give and take from others). "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day..." Hebrews 3:13
Stages of your life - I will never be a child, teen, young wife, young mother, or new Christian again in my life; so if that is the stage of your life right now - make the most of it, because this is your only opportunity.
Stages of your children's lives - my children are now 30, 28, 27 (almost) & 24 years old - they will never be babies requiring my time and attention again; they will never be toddlers that need to trained in every area, nor desire for me to sit and play puzzles with them again - so enjoy it. They'll not ask me to carry them or hold their hands when they are scared or tired; or for help with their homework, or even to drive them to their practices, games, activities, or to chaperon their dates - we've passed through all of those stages. I am blessed with the memories, and thankful that I tried to enjoy each stage, because all too fast that stage of life is gone... I don't regret one moment.
People - people are not dispensable as some would like to think. Every person is a soul for which God sent His only Son to save by dying in their stead on the cross. People are valuable, and no matter how old they are, how long or short of a time we have known and loved them - we don't like to lose them. Please don't toss people aside or decide that they are of no more value - I know that there are some people that may hurt us, or do things with which we don't agree; pray for those people because whatever caused their actions is probably hurting them, and holding on to bad feelings towards people that have hurt you, will just continue to hurt you until you let it go and forgive them. "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31 "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." Matthew 18:21, 22
Things you do for God - the things you do for God from your heart are sent ahead to heaven - those are treasures that are the best investments. "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:" Matthew 6:20
Salvation - We should treasure the Salvation that Jesus purchased with His own blood. How sad it is when Christian's neglect their Salvation - it is our highest and most valuable treasure - I could go on and on and quote verse after verse about our great salvation and all that it affords, but at least consider this: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." John 10:27, 28 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
We may not all have money, but we all have treasures - if you are reading this, you have time (you are alive and breathing), you have this stage of your life - enjoy it; enjoy every stage of your children's lives, one day they will be only memories; treasure the people in your life - they won't be here forever; and if you have trusted Christ as your Saviour, you have your Salvation - the one treasure you will never lose!
Have a wonderful day!
We have visited Columbia several times (in California - I don't even have a passport) where there is a beautiful park with a lot of attractions like horseback riding, picnicking, candy stores, panning for gold, nice big trees, and great weather. About 20 years ago on one of our family vacations we went to Columbia to the park and we were having a great time - we had gone horseback riding, we brought our picnic lunch, we bought candy and as we were checking out the gold panning area - we were watching as people were at various stations along the water actually panning for gold. Our youngest son (4 years old at the time) was also intrigued with what the people were doing, and so he walked up to see what they were getting out of the water, when he spotted a little glass vial (filled with water and gold specks that resembled glitter), which he quickly picked up and before we could stop him, he dumped it back into the water...oops! The man's jaw dropped, he was perturbed (to say the least) and let us know that it had taken him 1 1/2 hours to pan that gold! We apologized and then sped away (we were glad he didn't try to make us pay him the $$ the gold was worth)!
While watching the news the other day, they showed a video of a man that caught a foul ball at a professional baseball game whose daughter in turn got the ball and threw it back! Just like my son, she had no idea of the value or potential worth of this professional baseball. It was a ball, so the natural thing was to throw it - and what a good girl - she was giving it back. My son had no idea that there was gold in the vial - he was watching as the people panning for gold were filling and emptying water - so he did the same thing - not knowing its worth.
These children of course were completely innocent in their actions - but how often do we discard things of great worth because they just aren't worth anything to us or because we simply do not realize their worth? Most people are willing to pay the price if something is worth getting. We have all heard the saying "one man's junk is another man's treasure," but the truth is we should all make sure we know and prioritize our treasures. There are some things that just can't be replaced - sure that man at the baseball game may never catch another foul ball at a baseball game, but with all the publicity he received the ball team may have given him another ball; and that man whose gold my son spilled out could have stayed and panned for more gold - and found it...but what about the real treasures?
Time - once a moment has passed you can never get it back; treasure your time (and the time you give and take from others). "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day..." Hebrews 3:13
Stages of your life - I will never be a child, teen, young wife, young mother, or new Christian again in my life; so if that is the stage of your life right now - make the most of it, because this is your only opportunity.
Stages of your children's lives - my children are now 30, 28, 27 (almost) & 24 years old - they will never be babies requiring my time and attention again; they will never be toddlers that need to trained in every area, nor desire for me to sit and play puzzles with them again - so enjoy it. They'll not ask me to carry them or hold their hands when they are scared or tired; or for help with their homework, or even to drive them to their practices, games, activities, or to chaperon their dates - we've passed through all of those stages. I am blessed with the memories, and thankful that I tried to enjoy each stage, because all too fast that stage of life is gone... I don't regret one moment.
People - people are not dispensable as some would like to think. Every person is a soul for which God sent His only Son to save by dying in their stead on the cross. People are valuable, and no matter how old they are, how long or short of a time we have known and loved them - we don't like to lose them. Please don't toss people aside or decide that they are of no more value - I know that there are some people that may hurt us, or do things with which we don't agree; pray for those people because whatever caused their actions is probably hurting them, and holding on to bad feelings towards people that have hurt you, will just continue to hurt you until you let it go and forgive them. "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31 "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." Matthew 18:21, 22
Things you do for God - the things you do for God from your heart are sent ahead to heaven - those are treasures that are the best investments. "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:" Matthew 6:20
Salvation - We should treasure the Salvation that Jesus purchased with His own blood. How sad it is when Christian's neglect their Salvation - it is our highest and most valuable treasure - I could go on and on and quote verse after verse about our great salvation and all that it affords, but at least consider this: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." John 10:27, 28 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
We may not all have money, but we all have treasures - if you are reading this, you have time (you are alive and breathing), you have this stage of your life - enjoy it; enjoy every stage of your children's lives, one day they will be only memories; treasure the people in your life - they won't be here forever; and if you have trusted Christ as your Saviour, you have your Salvation - the one treasure you will never lose!
Have a wonderful day!
Sister,
ReplyDeleteI love you so much! Yes, enjoy our time, our children, our salvation, our friends, all the beauty that God hath bestowed upon us! Rejoice and be Glad, we have breath today!
Love you
Tammy