I often think of people who are wealthy as those who have big, fancy homes, expensive cars, and those who travel on extravagant vacations. Since I was younger, I often said, “Mom, I want to live in a giant mansion when I grow up.” I always thought that having many possessions would make me the happiest person in the world. Everything in the world that I did not own, I wanted to have. What people do not realize and what I did not realize then, is that there is another rich way of life, and one that is more worth living for.

When I was younger, I was blessed with a babysitter, whom I called Grandma Paula. With curly short hair, a very funny personality, and a sweet voice, Grandma Paula rushed around the house helping to meet my every need. “Grandma” I would say, “can I please have a snack? I’m hungry.” “Yes sweetie I will get right on it,” Grandma would coo.  Even though she was my babysitter, I felt like her actual grandchild. I felt this way because she always would be there for me. Whenever I hurt myself, she would be there to scoop me up like ice cream, and take care of me. I remember screaming out when I fell, “Help Grandma!” She would rush over and ask “What happened? Are you alright?” “No, I scraped my knee really hard and now it’s bleeding,” I cried. “Am I going to be ok?” I would ask. “Yes cutie, you will be just fine. Let’s get inside and I will help clean your wound up,” Grandma Paula would kindly say. She always knew what to say and was so sweet about helping me through all my injuries. I loved how she always smiled a big, broad smile at me.

As I spent time with my grandma, I noticed that her life seemed much more frugal than mine. First, she took me to fast food restaurants. I was excited because I never really went to fast food places. Second, Paula also made her own clothes, and even made clothes for other people. She fixed other people’s clothes when they needed repairs or alterations. I had asked her many times to fix an item of clothing that I owned. “Grandma, are my pants able to be fixed?” I asked her. “Yes, I can fix them. I would be glad to do it,” Grandma would lovingly state.  I felt like she was always there for me. In addition, my grandma lived in a small, but cute and cozy mobile home. Even though it was small, I loved visiting her there. Outside her garden was overflowing with different colored flowers and the aroma was magnificent. She even grew sweet, juicy berries that I always ate in the summer as the sun beat down on me. In my Grandma’s backyard, she had an old, square, wooden platform that was a swing. I loved swinging back and forth with the wind blowing in my hair.  The sun would be shining on my face, the birds tweeting, and the bees buzzing every which way. It was the simple things in life that she appreciated and I did too! I knew that she did not have much money, but often, when Grandma baked delicious treats, she would give the treats to a friend or someone she really cared about. I thought she was acting very generously whenever she did this. As my grandma came to visit, she would bring my family the most delicious and mouth-watering banana bread. Other times she would bring the most marvelous chocolate and vanilla cakes with a sweet, but also tangy taste to them. I loved when my grandma baked!

Even though my grandma didn’t have certain items that everyone has nowadays, I noticed how happy she was, and that she never seemed to be mad, angry, or sad. She was the kind of person you always wanted to be around because of her great attitude and loving personality. I also loved her laugh because it made me laugh too. Grandma Paula had so many friends and whenever she took me out, we would stop at a store that she was familiar with, and all the ladies there would know my grandma, and she would introduce me to her friends. “Grandma, how do you know all the ladies in the stores we drive to?” I would question. “I simply met them and started a relationship! They are my good friends,” she would respond. My grandma knew many of her neighbors and talked to them daily with her bright smile and energetic spirit. Paula even went to an assisted living place and loved visiting with the residents. Everyone there loved talking with her and her presence really brightened up their days. My grandma was so kind and generous every day of her life, even if she could not offer money, she always offered love, support, friendship, and Godly words.

I realized that my grandma was rich with love and friendship in her life. My grandma loved giving and she freely gave to friends and family. My grandma did not need any more possessions. Sometimes my grandma would want to take care of me when it wasn’t even planned, so that my parents could go out to dinner. She wanted to babysit without getting paid. My dad thought that was wrong and kept telling her that he would pay her. My grandma would always say back to my dad, “You are stealing my joy!” Giving was my grandma’s ultimate joy! She loved helping and caring for me, and felt rich when she gave to others her time and her love.

I learned that to be rich I don’t have to own many items. I learned this great and valuable lesson from spending time with my grandma and seeing what her life was like. I do love having possessions, but in the end, owning things doesn’t matter. Being a Christian and living a life in a Godly way is what matters. Living a different kind of rich lifestyle is the way I need to live my life and the way everyone should live their lives.