The things of real value in my life have been...

So the thought of the evening is: what has brought real value to my life? I ready myself to answer this question after having checked my Facebook, then my Gmail, to answer a survey prompt from Molton Brown promising a free $36 bottle of body wash (with online purchase). I then selected what I would like to buy, put it in my cart, reveled at my would be "savings" (a whole free bottle of the finest body wash money can buy!) and then closed the page without a transaction. I'm not sure why I like to do this strange thing (select what I want, put it in the virtual cart, smile at what would be, and then smile more about not doing it). It certainly is not what brings value to my life. It is a time waster, but golly am I able to remeber my fine time traveling Europe, marvel at my ability to recognize a truly superior product (I love the scent "Thai Vert" if you ever need to prove your love to me), experience the rush of "saving", and then ultimately get my "high" from walking away with one flick of my right index finger.

For a time, fine things that I could not afford really did bring a sort of "value" to my life (the actual purchasing of, not just virtual). However, those very things ruined me, and really kept me from the truth. The truth is not only does God love me, I should love me. I only thought I neeeeeded those things. My clothing could be Valentino or Faded Glory, God doesn't care and thankfully neither do my friends, and now thankfully and by God's grace neither do I. It took me a long time to let go of this part of my identity, and I'm still working on it to be honest. I can now say that while I really get some serious kicks from my yearly Ikea trip, I don't have the heart to drop my lifes work on a bottle of soap (... call it fine hand wash all you want, it's just soap). After time spent in impoverished places, the necessity of just plain soap trumps the value of the finest stuff around.

Here is my inconclusive list of MVT's (Most Valuable Things):
- Family as in my husband and my dogs (both like to step on me or poke me while I am trying intently to watch "the Good Wife", both would leave a BP oil spill sized gush if they were missing)
- Family as in birth family (cliche...yes, often annoying...yes, of immeausurable depth & support...yes)
- Faith (love God, love others... there is nothing greater)
- Girlfriends (hang on to women who love even the you that you don't)
- Giving (give of yourself all that you can... your time, your money, your skills... it's all God's, so give it away and you will find a joy that will amaze you every time)
- George's Pizza (visit Pella, IA... climb into a booth, order a large hawaiian pizza and split it with one of the aforementioned people)

Be blessed!

What has been a thing of real value in your life?