The Value of a Dollar

Drew has a constant NEED. He needs an unbelievable amount of sports jerseys. He’s not even particular. He’ll take any team and any player. They do need to have a number on the back, which frequently adds to the price tag of his NEED.

We have recently started facilitating a “Responsibility Chart” which spells out his required tasks (make bed, brush teeth, etc.). If he has a successful day, he earns a quarter. He’s been saving up in his piggy bank for awhile now so the last time he mentioned a NEED for a jersey, we suggested that he use his money to buy what he want.

We went to the store, he looked at the variety of jerseys. He sized up the price tags versus the amount of money he had and ultimately made a purchase. I felt good that I was helping to encourage a strong lesson with the value of a dollar. Until I realized that I personally struggle with that very own lesson when it comes to my own life.

I live in a world of haves and have mores. I certainly don’t have the largest palace on the block. I’m not armed with designer brands, unless you call “Spit up ala Cuff” a brand. And I feel at times completely out of my league. Sometimes I let these thoughts of having less than the people I see overwhelm me and take up larger space in my already cluttered brain than it deserves.

How am I supposed to teach Drew that our piggy bank only has so much in it? How am I supposed to teach Drew that even though we may have less in our piggy bank, we still have so much? I don’t want our “friend’s” mansion to taint how very much we love our house. It may have less bedrooms, bigger rooms, more upgrades but that what we have is perfect for us. How do I teach him these lessons while I’m still struggling so very much with them?

Recently on Facebook my newsfeed has been cluttered with one tragedy after another. As much as I try not to read, they suck me in. There are so many people in this world that have so much less, both monetarily and emotionally. We come from a place full of so much love and opportunity. We are so blessed for our health and abilities.

Why would we let our jerseys define us? Why would we let the size of our house, the designer bags we carry, the shoes are kids get dirty define the kind of people we are. When push comes to shove, those people who have suffered those tragedies on Facebook would give their house, their Louis Vuitton bag and their Ugg boots to have what we have stripped down – our family.

Drew has lots of wants. Unfortunately the apple doesn’t fall far. But I hope growing up in an affluent community doesn’t cause either of us to lose sight in how very rich we are.