Yesterday it was a big party for the family, as Mum had turned eighty. Two comments stuck out.

• One of my Aunts was talking about the property bubble. She is worried that none of the children will be able to buy in our old home town. (My sister in law noted that the area I grew up in — with sink schools and a large minority population — has houses over a million dollars). Her grandchildren are buying a hour to ninety minutes from home
• I had to make a speech at no notice. All I could think of is that she has helped many people, and the only way to measure progress in this life is how you inflience those around you.

I took the Pro Photographer yesterday to this beach, which is where my grandmother lived, and took me as a child. The access to this beach was free. On this weekend, it is important for the tribe to celebrate and be glad that our Mum is still alive. This is good, and it is not true religion to be a prig and not enjoy this.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

(James 1:16-18 ESV)

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

(Luke 12:13-21 ESV)

What Mum shows, above all, is that it is not what you have. I know many people with more possessions than Mum and Dad — within the extended family. But they are rich in love. TIt was shown yesterday. And their faith is strong. When their life is accounted from them, their witnesses will aroudn them, and will talk about the good they have done, and Christ will say that their sins are already paid for.

May that be the case for us all.