WINNING THE LOTTERY

Of course I would give some to the children and grandchildren.  Family members and special friends.  I would give to charities.  I would set up a fund to help people who need a hand up: A car to get to work or a new fridge.  Those things most of us take for granted but would make a world of difference in their life.  Finally, since I won $774 million, I would buy a condo in Orange Beach, Alabama.

Have you ever played the “If I Won The Lottery” (IIWTL) game?  We played that game a few weeks ago when the payout was an unbelievable amount.  Hubby spent his half quickly buying farmland, with the goal of finding a way to help young men and women, who could not afford to farm, but had a desire to farm.  I had trouble spending my half: $387 million.  I mean — who thinks in terms of millions?  Even after placing more money on the charity block of the IIWTL board game, I have millions sitting in front of me.  Millions! Even after doubling the cash for charities, family, and friends, there is money sitting in front of me.  Think Mary.  What would you do with $387 million?

Sigh.  We did not win.  IIWTL game is over.

What did I expect?  The odds were 1 in 292,201,338. 

“Mary did you even buy a ticket?”

Hi God.  We bought one. 

“Did you really think you would win?”

No.  Just dreaming of what I could do with that much money.

“How much money do you need?  How much will make you happy?”

Oh God.  The IIWTL is just a game.  The lottery wouldn’t make me happy.  Besides, I have everything I really need. 

“My goodness.  Have you been paying attention when we have conversations?”

Maybe.   I notice you do not have the 2 X 4 with my name on it, so apparently you do not intend to use the “get Mary’s attention” device.

“You are funny.  People are reading this so how do we get them to realize that money will not buy what they need to be happy?”

Well, if you don’t know how to get them to realize that, I don’t have a clue how to do it.  Money is a tool.  A tool we work for and use to get the things we need and the things we want.  I think the problem is that people allow the list of things they want to keep growing.  The list never ends because, when one thing gets marked off, we add another. 

“Of course, you are not guilty of this.”

There is sarcasm in that statement!  Of course, I am guilty of this, but I have learned that the things I really need and want do not require money.  And, when I accepted the gifts of grace, redemption, forgiveness, mercy, and hope, my want list changed. 

“May I see your want list?”

Really?  You know what is on there.  I will show you after I take a few things off.  Let me see.  Nope.  That can go.  This too. 

“Mary.  You keep going over that list.  I’ll be back to check it later.  And when you get to item 27, give it some real thought.  I do believe you can mark it off.”

But God, I really, really want a new computer.  God.  God.  I knew it.  He gives me something to think about and then lets me toss it around and around in my head. 

My computer works.  My computer does everything I need it to do.  My computer… Item #27 on my want list is now deleted. 

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How often do you take a look at your want list?  This is not your need list which includes food and shelter and health care and ….  This is the list that makes you think, “If I only had __?__, I would be happy.”  How often do you take things off your want list? How often do you add things to your want list?

Now you have something to think about.  What item would God tell you to mark off?  Toss this around and around in your head.  Would the things on your want list really make you happy or would you find the next thing and the next thing … and never be happy?