So often in life we are preoccupied with making a living that we forget to live. We become so preoccupied with our problems that we cannot see simple solutions. I like to remind myself that people are more important than money, problems, differences, etc. Too often the things that keep us apart and divided are things that really don’t matter at all when we are standing before the casket of a loved one. At that point we often wish that we had taken more moments to enjoy the person and the relationship. Parents are often too busy working and providing for their children that they deprive them of the love, attention, and human connections that prove to be more valuable in the long run.
Maybe it is time for us to reevaluate our priorities. If money, career, positions, or possessions rank above the people in your life, it is time to re-prioritize. Perhaps we can all look back on relationships that we lost due to death, divorce, relocation, etc., and discover that we missed out on the value of the other person or persons because of poorly placed values or priorities.
The beautiful thing about being alive today is that we have an opportunity to relate to the people in our lives from a new perspective. Today we can decide to give greater value to people rather than things. As we value ourselves enough to treat ourselves better and more wisely, I believe we will discover that we can only do so when we value others as well. So, today our call to discipline is in the area of attending to, and valuing, our relationships in new ways. Wise poor people, who value their relationships and live within their means, may be happier and more fulfilled that the wealthiest who are relationship poor. While both wealth and healthy relationships are preferable, how miserable we would be if we had financial riches and security, or poverty, and no one with whom to enjoy life.