Money isn't everything

This month I have had to make several decisions involving money that have reminded me that, although important for survival, money isn't everything.

Last weekend I was still getting calls from people who saw my advertisement in the newspaper and were interested in buying my house. Sorry people it is no longer for sale. Even with its flaws it's mine and I am keeping it. It makes me happy to live in a home that belongs to me.

Next I answered an ad for weekend work as a product demonstrator at a local grocery store. All the paper work is completed and I just received my official ID card. I am ready to start raking in that extra money, even though I thought I had retired in 2007. I am now standing at the starting line waiting for someone to blow the whistle. Something seems to be holding up my first assignment, but I can't put my finger on it. Another lesson in patience or trust perhaps?

Some of you may remember that I had to buy a new furnace recently. It turned out to be a major purchase that I temporarily put on my credit card. I wanted to buy some time to decide exactly how I wanted to pay for it. That didn't work out as planned because the bill just arrived. I had only been given two weeks to decide if I wanted to drag it on or just write a check for the total amount. I spent some time thinking about the situation. I realized I was not willing to pay one cent more than the bill I had received for the furnace, even though the amount would seriously deplete my savings. Then I had to laugh when I reminded myself that the money was there to take care of emergencies and heating my house qualified. Yesterday I wrote and mailed the check and it made me very happy.

Last week I responded to another ad for part time work, also at our local grocery store. I had a phone interview and was told the job was for 32 hours per week. The company desperately needed a person a.s.a.p. I was emailed 13 documents to read and asked to return the portions that were needed. After checking them out and deciding that 32 hours was more than I wanted I said no to the job offer. I had carefully weighed the pros and cons of what I would have to give up to accept the job. Even though the money would have more than doubled my current income and allowed me to replace what has gone out in unexpected bills in the last few months, It wasn't worth it. It was a tough decision because that potential clinking of coins had a really nice sound. I knew that in a short time this job would cause so much stress that I would want to quit. It simply wasn't meant for me.

Since making that decision, I am wondering if it is going to be my only chance to increase my income. Did I make the universe angry, by not accepting what was offered? I keep thinking of all those jokes about God offering to help and people just not accepting what was obvious. Is that what just happened? I have concluded the answer is no. There is another word that should be added to this story and that is trust. I believe that God/Source has something better in mind for me now that I have learned that money isn't everything.