I hope this new story of mine reminds all of you of just how rich you really are. God bless you always.

You know you don’t have a lot in this world when you have to buy used tires. I was a young dad working in a local saw mill and struggling just to make ends meet. I drove an old, green clunker of a car that burned oil and got horrible gas milage but at least got me where I needed to go. Then one day I noticed the tires. They were beyond bald. One had wires sticking out of it and another had knots in it where the belts were broken. I knew I was risking a blowout every time I drove it but I couldn’t afford new tires. I had no credit cards. My Mom was battling cancer and my Dad was disabled and cash strapped himself so I couldn’t ask them. I really didn’t know what to do.

Finally I poured my heart out to a friend who worked with me at the sawmill. He told me that he had just changed his tires and still had the old ones. He said they were worn down a little but were better than mine. He offered to give them to me and even change them himself but I insisted he at least take 20 dollars for his trouble. When he got them on I looked down at them. They were worn down about half way but nowhere near as bald and bad as my old ones were. I thanked him but knew I was just buying time. In another 6 months to a year I would have to change these too. But at least for now my wife and children would be safe on the road again.

I got home tired but thankful to God and my friend. As my young children ran to me, climbed on my lap and hugged me, my heart filled with love. I looked out the window at my old car and then my children’s smiling faces and thought: “I may not own much, but I am definitely rich.”

The things in this life don’t make you rich. It’s the love in your heart and kindness in your soul that make you rich. This much I know. God is good. God is Love. And God gives you everything you need to live a rich and blessed life here. You just have to embrace it.