Money Can't Buy That

              June 15^th will mark 103 years since my father’s birth on the northwest part of the south bend of the Arkansas River in Osage County. This area is commonly referred to as “the Bend.”

            Dad and his brothers had so many pithy sayings that conveyed truth or explained a situation precisely in a few words. I’ve written before about his favorite witticisms. (A link to this blog post is at: https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2015/06/witty-wisecracks-and-wisdom-of-edmund.html )

            One that I have found myself using repeatedly is Money can’t buy that. Every time I am shown a new baby, I usually respond with Money can’t buy that, especially if the young parent knew Dad. I have yet to have a new mother or father disagree with the statement. Only God can truly create life even with the latest genetic scientific discoveries. Life still begins with God.

            When a gravely ill person regains health even though death seems imminent, Dad’s adage applies. Only God holds life and death in His hand. The couple with a marriage that appears doomed to irreparable brokenness finds themselves resigned to its dissolution. Upon the marriage’s reclamation, the couple rejoices that even though Money can’t buy a good marriage, theirs is much better than it originally was. Again, only God can change our wills and attitudes to conform to harmony in relationships instead of hatred.

            I glimpse situations beyond my control daily. Sometimes it seems I pray moment by moment for God’s guidance and resolution of cattle/farm issues. Without fail, He interjects Himself on my behalf. The outcome frequently is not as I had expected but always working for the best, as He promises in Romans 8:28.

            Every person, atheist, agnostic, or believer, experiences the goodness of God innumerable times. If we recognize that gift of lovingkindness from God’s hand, we will join Dad in saying, “Money can’t buy that.” These verses bear out God’s goodness and are verses worth meditating on daily.

            The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth. Exodus 34:6

                The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. Psalm 145:9

            The habit of looking for provisions that money can’t buy illumines a life and creates an awareness of God’s presence. Often at a moment of weakness, despondency, or disillusionment, the Father of Lights (see James 1:17) becomes so visible with His intangible gifts for us.

            His most lavish gift is His Son sent to be the payment for our sin. With His own death, He provides what we never could. God’s justice demands our sins be covered for us to be forgiven and brought into a right relationship with God. Paul wrote of this in Romans 4:7 – Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. As Dad would say, Money can’t buy that.

My father, Mother, Angie, Ben, and Myself
One of our last family vacations in Branson in July of 2010.