Blog 841 – 12.12.2017

I Have Always Been Rich

As a poor boy growing up in East Tennessee well below the poverty line, I dreamed of being a millionaire, a philanthropist, a famous and well-beloved writer. I am and have always been all of those things and more. Whatever are you talking about, Crazy Dave. Just this, if it is true the childhood taunt, “It takes one to know one” and I believe it is – it has always been in me and in you to be the person of our dreams. I have quite literally made in excess of three million dollars in my life, not that I have that much of it socked away in case you were thinking about asking me for a loan. I have also learned one of life’s great lessons, how to say, “No thank you.” I said that to a fund raiser who asked me for a donation to her cause outside a Walmart once and she surprised and questioning said rather loudly, “No thank you?” To which I replied, “Yes, no thank you!” You do not have to give to everyone who asks contrary to the often misapplied Bible verse that seems to say you should. I had a pastor friend, Earl Jacob Collins who believed and practiced that verse quite literally and every bum within five states of Chattanooga knew they would get something at his door just for asking. Brother Collins did not know how to say, “No.” But I have learned and think we all should learn how to say no to our friends, our family, our children, yes even strangers with their hands out and to say an occasional and even more often yes to ourselves.

There is a little child in all of us that we have said no to so many times that the child has probably stopped asking. Have you spent any time lately with your inner child, asked him or her what they want for Christmas, if they would like to play? I encourage you to. Life is meant to be fun. And it might surprise you how much more of you there would be for others if you helped that little child in you first.

Every year at this time I cannot help recalling a sad little Christmas story about a dad who had a parcel of children and each child received only one small Christmas toy. Because this daddy thought it was the right thing to do he made his kids give up their little toys to share with some even poorer neighbor children one Christmas. His kids, not openly for fear of a lecture and or a spanking, resented his act meant to be an act of Christian kindness. So does our inner child when we give away all our time, attention, and gifts to others and thereby depriving the one who loves and needs us most.

Jealousy is a terrible thing, most of us can agree, but sadder still for the jealous one. We all feel a bit jealous when we think what is rightfully ours has been given to someone else. That starts with us when we cheat our inner child. No body else, and nothing else can supply that lack of love and attention to your inner child like you.

How did you ever get to be so smart and wise? I just started listening to my inner child. That is when I began to find out that I have always been rich, quite a philanthropist, and a well-beloved writer. Thank you for reading. Keeping my inner child happy is my own responsibility (as keeping yours is yours) but thanks for the help.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White