TWO-PARENT RICH

By Danna Shirley

This phrase dropped into my thoughts one day when I was listening to a radio program on the condition of our present generation’s children and how they’re coping with their home life. My definition of two-parent rich is growing up with both parents, mother and father, loving each other unconditionally, whether they live in a mansion or in low-income housing. Sadly, divorce, single-parent homes, death of a parent, or being raised by other family members seems to be the norm today.

Most of society believes “rich” means monetary wealth but can all the money in the world buy happiness, health, loving marriages, respectful children, friendships?

If we could take our eyes off of money, and put them on people, we would see helping hands and meeting needs not only in our own communities but as far as our prayers and donations would take us . . . 

like taking coloring books and crayons, cleaning supplies, and warm clothes to the many displaced fire victims in Gatlinburg, TN . . .

or taking Christmas presents to an orphanage . . .

or singing Christmas carols at an assisted living facility . . .

or baking cookies for a shut-in neighbor . . . 

or just dropping a few dollars in the Salvation Army red kettle every time you shop for yourself at Wal Mart . . .

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD . . . (this would be?)

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world                

                                                                             

I see skies of blue and clouds of white                            
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night                 
And I think to myself what a wonderful world                
                                                                             

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky               

Are also on the faces of people going by

I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do

They're really saying I love you

I hear babies crying, I watch them grow

They'll learn much more than I'll never know

And I think to myself what a wonderful world

Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world