The Family vs. The Career... Can You Have it Both Ways?

Everyone has an attidude about money. Some people feel money is the "root of all evil". Some believe money can buy happiness. Some believe it is fleating, never lasting. Others believe that money is elusive, while still others treat money as an old friend. Personally, I have a unique take on money; well, more unique than most, but shared with a few. I don't fear money, nor do I seek it. It cannot be evil, for it cannot choose what humans do with it. Money can bring a sense of security. It can provide food, shelter, and clothing. Money is my very welcome friend, and though it does get me nice things, and work for me, I believe money is beautifully fluid; like the ocean, it ebbs and flows, comes and goes, rather rythmically. I know that sounds strange, its just that I have learned not to worry about money. Years ago, I was a single mom with six children. My husband changed all the accounts and took all the money. He forced me to refinance the house we had paid for in full, in order to pay him out. I was left with very little, and no viable skills, as I had been a stay-at-home mom for many years. I quickly went to school for Massage Therapy, graduating with a 3.9 GPA and passing my national exams. But I soon learned that I wasn't physically capable of working on more than three clients in a day, and I would be hard-pressed to find that many clients. I worked for a Chiropractor who paid a third of my worth. I was supporting my son on a mission, and sending my daughter out right after him. Three months later, she came home with lung cancer. I was in serious financial trouble. I rented out our home to provide an income and my brother allowed us to rent his house for half the mortgage. During this difficult time, I prayed hard, paid my tithing and fast offerings, and did everything I could to make ends meet. I worked three jobs. I remembered that Ghandi once said that most days he would meditate one hour. But on the most stressful days, he meditated for two hours. I took that advice and increased my meditation time, my scripture study, and my affirmations. My favorite affirmation was "We have all that we need and enough to share." Every day, I took $20 and put it in an envelope in my purse. If I felt impressed to give it to someone, I did. If I didn't have $20, I packed up a lunch or a snack or whatever I had, and gave it to a homeless person. I determined to be as generous as I could and thanked God for every little blessing, because I believe that gratitude and generosity breeds prosperity. We were so very blessed!!! Two months after moving into my brother's rental home, he declared bankrupcy and I was told not to pay him anymore. I was able to put all that rent money into a CD account, so when the bank reposessed the house (four and a half years later) I had a little to put down on a home. I have had so many amazing miracles in my life! I have learned that money is just energy. It ebbs and flows, comes and goes, like the ocean. Another affirmation I love is "As money goes out, money comes in in divine ways. God is my supply, so I don't fear." I make friends with Alexander Hamilton, Andrew Jackson, Ulysses Grant, and Benjamin Franklin. They are always welcome in my home. I never fear lack, for I have learned that God provides for me... if not in money, than in what I need, generally quite unexpected surprises. I have seen too many people emotionally drown in their view of money. I have seen single moms resort to begging on the corner, though they were highly skilled. I have seen intelligent women entrepreneaurs fail at business time and time again because they were told, "You're a penny. And a penny can never be a dollar." I've seen wealthy people fall behind in their rent every month because they didn't value their money enough to put it where it needed to go and instead, spent it willy-nilly. I've seen people act so entitled that they felt they didn't have to work for their money and that others should have to pay their way. And I've been (in the distant past) one who was so afraid of spending even one penny for fear of lack, that I was frozen in fear and physically ill when I spent even a tiny bit. But I have learned to see money differently. According to Attitude on Money, the rules of prosperity are: 1. Seek after the Lord and develope hope in Him. 2. Keep the commandments, especially the law of tithing and fast offering. 3. Think about money; make a plan to become self-reliant. 4. Learn all you can about money matters, get educated. "Education is the key to opportunity". 5. Learn what blessings come from keeping which laws. 6. Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty, heal the sick and release the captive.