Why People Say that “Money is the Root of all Evil” and my personal take on this Subject…
I have never felt this way and I will tell you a story that will possibly make you understand why I feel the way I do…
My Mom had a stroke about two years ago. She had never really been sick…certainly not to this extent. She was still fairly young, and it was the last thing that I ever expected. She was my very best friend. I was devastated.
She was never the same after that. I moved her in with me. I was also raising my son at the time. Plus, I was in school (still am) getting my graduate degree in Gemology and running a business, composing music, doing studio work, and trying very hard to have some semblance of a normal life.
She needed full time care and I was truly losing my mind.
It was hard enough watching my Mom waste away and turn into a person I no longer recognized. But I was taking care of her constantly. Around the clock. Bathing her. Feeding her. Giving her her medicine. Helping her walk with her walker. Some nights I would either sit in a chair in her bedroom just to watch her, and some nights I would lie down next to her, just to be close to her and try and get a bit of rest, but most of the time I found myself talking with her…telling her stories, trying so hard to remind her of all of our beautiful moments together…all of the people who still loved her so much…I was doing anything that I could think of to spark her memory hoping with everything inside of me she would just sit up, start talking with…even if she had sat up and started to argue with me over one of our silly arguments…usually dealing with the fact that I’ve never been all that domestic (for lack of a better word.) I truly am my Father’s daughter. Neither of us were very organized or neat, and my Mom was a bit OCD. I loved her so much, even if she actually had sat up and started arguing with me, I can’t describe how happy I would have been…sadly, that didn’t happen.
I was exhausted. Not just doing the daily chores and the cooking, cleaning, bathing her, cleaning her, feeding her, all the while raising my son, studying and working, the hardest part was having to explain things to her over and over. I was starting to lose it…
I decided I needed help. I hired a service. They weren't nurses, but rather aids who didn't know much, but I was so desperate I honestly didn't care.
They came in at 9am and left at around 5pm. Monday through Friday. So I was on duty after 5pm, all night long and when morning rolled around I was relieved. I also was doing the ‘heavy lifting ‘ on weekends around the clock, but having the people come in, Monday through Friday from 9am until about 5am was not only helpful, it was a necessity in my eyes.
Sometimes I didn't even sleep. But I was so grateful just to be able to lie down for a while and catch my breath.
Had I not had the money, I truly believe I would have gotten sick myself. I'm an only child. I didn't have anyone else to help me.
I can understand why some would think that money is the root of all evil. There are some truly greedy, terrible people out there. And I have always felt that at a certain point, there is only so much money that a person needs, but if you want the very best education, or the home you have always wanted, (and about a million other things I can think of) you need to have money.
Wanting certain things for yourself is not a bad thing. I think if you work hard and have your priorities in order you should be able (and allowed) have the things you desire (as long as you are not hurting anyone including yourself…)
I’m not talking fur coats and yachts (though if you can afford it, and those are things that you want for yourself, that’s your choice...) but for me, had I not had the money to have a bit of help during a truly terrible time, I’m honestly not sure what I would have done.
I think sometimes it is very easy to just make a statement that when the sh*t hits the fan, you might look at things in a different way. I understand why some could feel the way they do about money, but is it really money that is the issue, or perhaps the love or even obsession with money is actually the root of all evil, but not money itself…
So, at least for me, my life and my take on this notion that money is the root of all evil, I just do not feel that way. I never have, and I never will.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
