Self-righteousness......... A Paradigm - shifft

'n Vertelling wat allereers 'n 'Kaapse draai'  by 'oom Daantjie innie Kalwerhok' gaan maak.......

One day.......

..... an 'asset-based affluent' father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the 'platteland' (country) to show his son how poor people can be.....

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

 On their return from their trip, to the 'big' city, the father asked his son:

"How was the trip?"

"It was great, Dad."

"Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked.

"Very much so...." said the son.

"So what did you 'learn' from the trip?" asked the father proudly.

The son answered:

* I saw that we have one dog and they had four....

* I am the only 'lonely' kid; they are several brothers & sisters loving each other..... 

* We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a stream of water that has no end..... 

* We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.....

* Our patio reaches to the front yard & they have the whole horizon...... 

* We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.... 

* We have servants who serve us, but they serve each other.... 

* We buy our food, but they grow theirs.... 

* We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them."

..........With this the boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added,

"Thanks, Dad, for showing me how 'poor' we are."

* Too many times we forget what we have and concentrate on what we don't have....

* What is one's persons worthless object is another's prize possession......

* The almost only yardstick being used nowadays to measure 'success' is based on the quantity & quality of tangible assets that can be discounted in monetary value & quantified to 'show your standing comparing to the Jones' standard of snobbishness'........

How Short-sighted; temporary & of  zero 'Eternal' value...!   

It is all based on one's perspective of what is 'really-really Important' & priorities in YOUR Life: Things, People, Jesus Christ....?

* Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks  (i.e. Gratitude)  for all the affluence/bounty we have instead of worrying about wanting more......

* Take joy in what you have (contentment) and see the treasure in it....to share some of it with those that are not so fortunate. You might be surprisingly "Blessed" in doing so......

* Focus on the intangible , intrinsic value & character of an individual , rather than the 'window-dressing' outer appearance of a person & the 'assets' they might have to enhance the impression others (they don't even know)  might have on their projected  'success' / worth.

* Never forget........The 'window-dressing - paraphernalia can ALL be taken away from you in an instant, -BUT the intrinsic values of 'Eternal Value' can NEVER be taken away.

* It is in any case, -just a matter of "Grace", everyday!

* Living a 'Life of Gratitude' is all that is expect from you, 

because ......... "He Lives ! "

* ...... of ALL of them the greatest Treasure / Wealth one can have, NOW & Forever, is  the 'knowing-in-your-knower' that you have Eternal Life because of your 'Intimate Daily relationship' with the Living God through Jesus Christ & the Holy Spirit, Guiding & Leading you every situation/day, -until He return.......... in the very near Future !

Hallelujah !

Shalom