A "Friend of a Friend" posted this on his status on Facebook, after his graduation (I assume):
"What does a brand new iTouch, gratuitous amounts of s'mores ingredients, (including stupidly enormous marshmallows,) $900!!!!!!, a new laptop on the way AND a new Bari Sax on the way as well mean to me?! That my relatives are ridiculously jacked about me graduating, even more so than I am! But what does it mean to you,... my dear friends? Oh yes, that's right, road trip. TO ANYWHERE IN THE [BLEEP] WORLD!!! Interested?"
I post this here simply to illustrate the ridiculous atmosphere in which children are sometimes steeped in wealthy circles. I worry about this child. You see by this that he only thinks they are happy about his graduation, he is not looking at his future or his past, but thinks they are weird, judging by his words about them. I do too.
Children do not expect such luxury, even rich children. They observe how people work for a living and save for extras, and they expect to do the same - until they are trained to expect otherwise by their parents and relatives. Graduation from high school is a milestone, yes, but not such an uncommon one - even if your grades are horrible. I know, mine were. I was never so happy as when I saw that my diploma folder actually held a diploma.
What did I receive to celebrate this? A watch from my father that was state of the art - and which I did in no way appreciate simply because it looked like a man's watch. I thought it was hiding something else in the box. (Hurt my father's feelings terribly and I can hardly stand to remember that to this day, but c'est la vie: hurting memories are part of this life also). When they saw my unbelief - "How could they? Didn't they know me better than THAT? How could they think I'd want a man's watch??"** - they were moved to take it back and get me something I had wanted for a long time: a STEREO! I know I didn't deserve it.
And this purchase of a stereo, with all components, for their second child, with credit as they could not afford to pay cash, was extravagant on their part!
Put it next to what we read above, and it paints quite a picture in my mind. The hard-working (he had two jobs) father's gift, thought about long and hard I'm sure, to his daughter upon her high school graduation of an item worth more than he could afford, because he thought it rather the best item of its kind, on one hand, replaced by something that was even more meaningful to her right where she was in her life and for who she really was; the affluent family's gifts, possibly thought about more than a minute, but probably not, seemingly flung carelessly at the teen without word of why or how, completely inappropriate at his age..... A lopsided picture.
Jesus tells us in Matthew chapter 6: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Perhaps this grad's comments posted on Facebook hit me hard because I had just come from a concert at my church. The choir sang so beautifully, and everyone was inspired to give to the cause. There was more money in that plate as it passed than I ever see on a Sunday morning in church. A World Vision spokesman showed slides of the people in Haiti attempting to dig out from the devastation. We were left with the vision of a girl dancing joyfully - a girl for whom the light of life had almost gone out when her father and other loved ones were killed, her home lost, and other tragedies related to the earthquake came upon her. As the choir sang my favorite of the pieces on the program that night, her image hung above us, witness to an inner spark of joy no money can buy, but which our money could feed and grow and spread to others in her situation.
My God, my portion and my love, my everlasting all,
I've none but thee in heaven above, or on this earthly ball.
What empty things are all the skies, and this inferior clod!
There's nothing here deserves my joys, there nothing like my God.
In vain the bright, the burning sun, scatters his feeble light;
'Tis thy sweet beams create my noon; if thou withdraw, 'tis night.
Let all that dwell above the sky, andd air, and earth, and seas,
Conspire to lift Thy glories high and speak Thine endless praise.
The whole creation, join in one, to bless the sacred Name,
Of Him that sits upon the throne, and to adore the Lamb.
Of Him that sits upon the throne, and to adore,
And to adore the Lamb! Adore the Lamb!
(By Isaac Watts and F. Lewis. Arr. Mack Willberg)
This is what I'd gift my children with. This is far purer than gold, lasts longer, is worth so, so much, much more!
The final chords rang out loud and clear and long, raising the rafters. Of course we gave. The pastor even asked for the "widow's mite" from any of us hanging onto a few last dollars - I was one. Yes, I took out some (but not all, I'm afraid) of the few dollars in my wallet.
Of course, I don't know anything about this graduate. I don't know what his grades were like. I don't know if there really was a doubt as to whether he would graduate, and so possibly the gifts were a reward for doing it. I don't know whether he rather is a responsible young man (though by his language I think not). I don't know whether he'd been saving up for something with money he'd earned somewhere. I really am not in a position to judge him or his family.
Which is why I'm asking for your thoughts on the subject. What does it say to you? I'd love your input in a comment below.
I wanted to post about how astounding this gift is to this teenage boy. But instead I find myself more astounded at God's gift to me through the benefit concert last night, of music and words joined in the songs I heard. God met me where I was and drew me further on, into His boundless love and toward His everlasting kingdom of love, showing me His amazing grace, which is astounding. Don't want my kids to miss out on that gift!
Simply astounded,
Patty
** It was not until decades later that I realized the real pain was in my father's heart, that his daughter did not know him better than that.....
