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Inspiration: An Abundance of Riches…

26/08/2011

Franklin Roosevelt said the test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance to those who have much; it is whether we provide enough to those who have too little…” Patrick J. Kennedy

Inspiration: An Abundance of Riches... feed thy neighbor and thyself...

When we think of abundant riches and what we would do if they came knocking on our door, it is quite easy to get caught up in our reverie and imagine a life filled with opulence and untold excesses… We might linger on our fantasies for a while or if we are fortunate, gain a moment of lucidity; remembering that our abundant blessings are to be shared. I love the quote above because it is a reminder that true abundance is not just about our gains, but also about whether we provide enough to those who have too little.

“Not what we have But what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.” Epicurus

Inspiration: An Abundance of Riches... Share the health & happiness

When I first read the Plinky prompt to – Name something you’d like a lifetime supply of – I imagined two things that we all cherish in our lives even though we sometimes forget to name them; health and happiness. I figured that with our health in positive alignment, we can accomplish many things and live productive lives. With happiness, which encompasses every other blessing; spiritual, material, mental and otherwise, we have a complete package to help us live abundantly.

Of course, the key is to not just wish it for ourselves; but to also bless others and wish them just as much.  If we look around our communities, there are many struggling to make ends meet and then others living quite lavish lifestyles. If each of us offers some assistance; shared our good fortune, we will make a positive impact on another person’s life.  With the impending hurricane, I might be offline till Monday… I Will follow up on comments when feasible. Posts were already scheduled. Stay safe all! More below…

“Many a man curses the rain that falls upon his head, and knows not that it brings abundance to drive away the hunger.” Saint Basil

Inspiration: An Abundance of Riches... Abundant flowers share their blooms...

When we look around our global communities today, we can see that we live in difficult times; a world economy in trouble, unemployment numbers growing, and shifting winds of change around the world destabilizing economies and adding to our collective sense of uncertainty. Through it all, there is an underlying current that we need to nurture each other with our goods and our deeds. If we can make a difference in the lives of a few, then, we are on track to sharing our abundance.

“Great abundance of riches cannot be gathered and kept by any man without sin.” Desiderius Erasmus

Inspiration: An Abundance of Riches... all shapes and forms contribute to the whole... share.

In the final analysis, Health & Happiness are desirable gifts that we all want even before we want material wealth. Why? Because wealth alone cannot sustain us if we have neither the health to enjoy it nor the delightful company of friends, family, community and the larger world to share and celebrate with…  Even Midas recognized the folly of his ways when everything turned to gold and he had lost all that held meaning to him including his beloved daughter… We can’t eat or live on gold alone. We need the richness of friendship, love, and memories of joyful days shared. I wish you an abundance of riches too.. share it!  What are your thoughts? What would you like a lifetime supply of? How will it benefit your fellow men and women? Do share! Thank you. 😉

This post was inspired by a prompt from WP Plinky: Name something you’d like a lifetime supply of.

Positive Motivation Tip: Share your abundance and enjoy the multiplication of your inner riches.

PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos St Lawrence Market, Abundance AnemoneAbundant architecture, via Wikipedia. Abundance Log by incurable_hippie via Flickr

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet

29 Comments leave one →
  1. 27/08/2011 12:31 am

    Be safe. Prayers being sent your way.

    • 28/08/2011 1:16 am

      TY for your prayers… We are braving the worst and while the rains are heavy, we hope it won’t get too windy… Lots of trees around us so the winds worry me. Internet access is intermittent so i might not be able to always respond. I will catch up on your blogs all. 🙂

  2. 27/08/2011 12:58 am

    An abundance of love, friendship, happy memories and joyful days would certainly make this world a better place Eliz.
    Stay safe during the hurricane; you will be on my mind.

    • 28/08/2011 1:17 am

      Yes, it would also help those in need during this horrible hurricane… TY for the prayers! TY! 🙂

  3. 27/08/2011 12:29 am

    “Not what we have But what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.” Epicurus – I am happy, Eliz, to find Epicurus in your writings!

    • 28/08/2011 1:14 am

      Ty for your comment Frizztext. I have used a few of his quotes in the past… This was one that also fit the post. 🙂

  4. 27/08/2011 3:59 am

    Batten down the hatches Elizabeth. Stay safe and we shall all be praying for you.
    Back to Abundance..why did I not think of ‘health and happiness’ for without these nothing else would be worth having, AND by sharing what you have , however little it may be your reward would be tenfold

    • 28/08/2011 1:19 am

      TY and prayers are always welcome. Oh, I’m glad you liked the post too… Those two H words cover everything and I think when we start there, the rest follows. TY! 🙂

  5. 27/08/2011 6:52 am

    Desiderius Erasmus’s quotation is meaningful.
    I remembered “Crime and Punishment” by Dostoyevsky.

    • 28/08/2011 1:20 am

      Yes, it a significant quote because it reminds us of the uselessness of greed. People who collect wealth and never share it, don’t benefit from it either… What’s the point, eh? TY! 🙂

    • 30/08/2011 1:06 am

      Same here. 😉

  6. Bree permalink
    27/08/2011 10:51 am

    What a beautiful and fluid post. I feel the abundant blessings you send and wish you same. Please stay safe with your family.
    God is in the details. All will be fine and you can check in when it passes.
    B

    • 28/08/2011 1:22 am

      TY for your kind words. We are bracing for the storms and dealing with the rains… Prayers are appreciated and all will be well… TY again for the comment. This is a good time to share what we have with those who don’t. My prayers go out to all of you… Blessings! 🙂

  7. 27/08/2011 2:33 pm

    Beautiful photos, meaning quotes and inspiring words…as usual, Elliz, great post!!!!
    Many times we think that MORE (of whatever) will make us happier…but I believe that “happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have”.
    And, as I read on another blogger’s site: “Each one can teach one…each one can reach one”. I think we can all try to help just one person…in some way.
    Please stay safe during the storm, Eliz…prayers are with you and your family.:)

    • 28/08/2011 1:26 am

      TY for your prayers and I hope you are doing fine too. Abundance is an inside job really, and when we feel abundant inside, we are not afraid of losing anything. A poverty mentality causes people who are well off to act cheap and deprived. They don’t understand the power of reciprocity…. But sooner or later, we all learn… we can’t take it with us. Take care too! 🙂

  8. 27/08/2011 3:06 pm

    “Great abundance of riches cannot be gathered and kept by any man without sin.” Desiderius Erasmus
    I love this quote; agree fully, although I’d never have thought to put the words together myself!

    Health and happiness for many is it for me as well. When I find myself imagining what I’d do if I came into a sudden, surprise inheritance, this is what I imagine spending it on:

    – Paying off law school debt
    – Paying off siblings’ school debt
    – Putting money aside so Li’l D and any sequels do not have to worry about things like school debt
    – Down payment on a house
    – Donations
    – Travel

    I revisit the question ever so often, but the answer’s always roughly the same. 🙂

    • 28/08/2011 1:28 am

      I’m glad you liked that quote as it is telling… love it too. The two H’s work for me too and, like you, I have things I’d love covered including all the kids colleges too… It’s all grace.
      Hope you are safe where you are… Blessings to all!
      TY Deborah! 🙂

  9. 27/08/2011 8:36 pm

    I especially like the quotation about the rain. So very true.

    A surprise inheritance? Depending on how much it was, I’d set up some form of school scholarship fund in Lagos. Yes, I’d buy my family a house and so on first! But I don’t believe we need an abundance of material things. Give me health and happiness any day!

    • 28/08/2011 1:30 am

      Give me health and happiness and the rest will fall into place… I like your wish list… Schools for kids to help those who will make future changes is always a great thing. Ditto the rest. TY! 🙂

  10. 28/08/2011 5:04 pm

    Definitely health and happiness, everything else will flow from that.
    Thanks, Elizabeth!

    Stay safe.

    • 30/08/2011 1:07 am

      I’m with you on that one too. Everything will flow from there… 🙂

  11. 28/08/2011 6:12 pm

    Another great post, Elizabeth! 🙂

    • 30/08/2011 1:08 am

      TY Robin! Your feedback is always appreciated. 🙂

  12. 01/09/2011 9:12 am

    It has taken me a while to get to this post, but I’m so glad I did. To have food, shelter, clothing, friends, health and happiness is to be a rich person. As Richard and I have spent the last year “downsizing” our lives, we become progressively happier as we shed more of the excesses, and recognize more that “enough is enough” to make for abundant living. Thanks for a lovely post.

  13. 01/09/2011 4:47 pm

    No friendship is ever a waste or a mistake. Sometimes “I’m sorry” will repair things, but other times it won’t. People are all created “perfectly imperfect”. My friends are of my most valuable riches…. James

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