Money Doesn't Make the World Work

This morning I was in my typical routine of getting ready for work. While in the solitude of my bathroom (we take what we can get these days) I was shaving and my mind wandered freely toward contemplating various aspects of money in my life. You know, things like how we're going to pay for certain stuff, financing college for the kids, paying bills, creating financial value for Hines, etc... In the background, behind closed door, I could hear the rest of the family wrestling around trying to get ready for their day. We only ("only", I'm ashamed to even use that word in this case) have two bathrooms in our home, so Poppy opened the door to the one I was in and asked if she could use it. Of course I told her that would be fine (we have cozy quarters around our home, so sharing facilities with little privacy is just part of the "deal"). As she sat there she asked me, "Dad, why do you always have to work?" I replied, "Because, Sweetheart, God created work for the world so that we could make money and eat." Without a second thought she said, "Daaaaad, money doesn't make the world work, God does." I thought for a moment while giggling under my breath and said, "You're absolutely right, Sweetie, money does not make the world work. But God also said in the Bible that if you don't work, you don't eat (cf. II Thessalonians 3:10). So you see, work is a good thing." "I know, Dad", Poppy said while simultaneously getting up, pulling up her pants and walking out of the bathroom. I watched her back side as she sort of waddled out the doorway and I closed the door behind her.

As Poppy left I just had to ponder for a moment about that blissful encounter in, of all places, the most inane spots. I wonder whether Poppy isn't an angel sometimes, I mean literally. She says the darnedest things at the most opportune times which I truly believe are supernatural. Here I was fretting over money and God plops Poppy down right on the place where money is in complete contrast to her bodily function and out she blurts the perfectly theological re-frame that put me right back to "ground zero". At my age, how many times must God remind me that I cannot serve both God and money (cf. Matthew 6:24)? I guess pretty dog-gone frequently given the slap up side the head He gave me this morning through our Qing Zu Qiao.

Thank you, again, Poppy. (And thank you, God.)