How To Have Great Gain

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How to have great gain. That is my subject today. Not how to have "weight gain," which is an unatural result of the slippery slope between Halloween Candy and New Year's Resolutions. We'll talk about that later.

No, today, I want to share some good news about great financial gain, relationship gain, and happiness gain, because today, I woke up very rich - several times, I might add. Once at 1:00 am, exactly one hour after lying down for the night, again at 4:30, when the heat from all Paul's cast aside covers finally caused me to swelter into wakefulness, (This happens nightly, and I must admit that my response is not always a smile.) and again at 5:00, when I decided to go back to sleep for another hour. The funny thing was, each time I woke up, I was acutely aware of the prosperity all over my life, and my desire to stir up abundance in every one I meet.

What made me so rich? Was it the checks I've been getting in the mail? I don't think so, but that's a part of it. Was it the great deals I found on my kid's Christmas gifts? Nah. Was it the fact that I spend my days doing what I love? Why yes! And just what do I love? The small stuff!

I love to look back to all that I ever dreamed of when I was younger - finding a fabulous husband, having a home, and kids of our own, and having a career where I get to speak and write and help people, being able to do what I want, when I want. And alas, those days have been upon me for years. I am living my dreams. And here's the funny thing - most of the time the fulfillment of those great dreams is quite - daily.

There was nothing spactacular about one single thing that happened yesterday or today. In fact today, there was even some irritated squabbling as the two older kids looked for missing clothes. Few things are as irritating to Jordan as losing his expensive undershirts, except of course, losing all his sweatshirts. Some days I imagine he'll have nothing to wear to his winter baseball practice except his pajamas. And Kristan, well, she had her own issues surrounding her basketball game tonight, while Nathan nearly forgot his backpack, and poor Matthew was staying home with some stomach flu... No. The morning did not look blissful for about ten distinct minutes.

That is when I saw our riches in action. It is in the daily stuff. If you can embrace the daily-ness of every day life, then you can be rich indeed. None of us really has any guarantee of tomorrow, so why wait to be happy?

Why did I wake up rich? Because each time I awoke, I was aware of all the love that fills our home - even when we get on each other's nerves. I was aware of the fact that the worst sicknesses we've ever faced have been gone in 72 hours and I was aware that we have never gone without food and warm shelter. I was aware that my worst days are a hundred times better than most of the world's best days.

My friend Bill says that a man's prosperity is not shown by what he accumulates, but by what he is able to give away. You don't have to be rich to have that mindset. I've seen people in 3rd world countries, smile exuberantly as they give away one of their only chickens, and I've seen wealthy Americans in pain over giving away a hundred dollars. The contrast is remarkable.

Are you rich today? If you are reading this on your computer, and you know where your next meal is, you are richer than most of the world. The secret to great gain is to tune in to it - and enjoy it!

In this crazy, commercial season, I encourage you to slow down, count your blessings, and find something to do for somebody who is not in your immediate family and who can't pay you back. Your gift does not have to be about money.

If you have something to give, and you can give it with a happy heart, than you have great gain, for sure!