While there is always going to be days that we wish our family were dead, or at least far, far away; deep down we know that family is the most important thing in our lives. Family is what brings us into this world and what takes care of us while we are here. Sure, sometimes families are horrific, but as time has gone on family isn’t necessarily what it used to be. Divorce rates are increasing by the day, older people dating is becoming more and more popular, and children being abused and neglected is more prevalent than we would like to think. All of those things are not family. Family is people whom we love and hold close. If family were just about whom we have descended from and who we are linked to through blood then adoptions would be pointless, re-marriages would be like abuse to children, etc. Family can be close friends that we care for, family can be extended family. What family is depends on who we are, and for that reason, nothing is more important than family.

Now, money comes into the equation and you wonder if money could possibly be more important than family. Many claim that money has to be more important than family because it would be impossible to support a family without money. Face it, families need a lot of money. There’s food, housing, utilities, medical, schooling, etc. Money, in a sense, makes the world go round (not necessarily in a good way). But what motivates us to make that money to pay for those things; it is our family. Our family motivates us to go to work everyday and make money to enjoy a life together.

Money is worthless. All money breeds is greed and arrogance. Many people with a lot of money lead solitary lives because they are selfish and are filling some void that could never fully satisfy life. Sure, we all want money, but the majority of us can be realistic about it.

If you think about it and I were to ask you why you wanted money, what sort of answers would I receive? Some people may say that they would go on vacations or buy a big screen tv, etc. etc. Now, let’s pretend instead that I asked you why you wanted family? Some people may say for love, for a connection and feeling of belonging, for support, etc. etc. You can see that the reasons for wanting family for much deeper than the reasons for wanting money, so how could money be more important?

I worked at a soup kitchen a few years ago, helping to provide dinner to the homeless. These people had no money but there were people that would come in as a family and would be happy and thankful that they were together. There was, in particular, one couple with a young boy no more than seven who sat together and looked more connected than any of the families that I have seen outside of those walls. They were the only ones not corrupted by money and the materialism of the world. It is sad that the only way we can see value is when we lose everything. We all have a lot to learn from that unfortunate family; family is more important than anything, especially. money.