He sat in front of my desk, his heavy girth covering the chair on all sides. He reeked of dirty politics and greed and was quite proud of his reputation as such. A “fat cat” from the big city.

As he laced his fat little fingers together on top of his round belly, he watched me as I entered data into the computer. I felt my skin begin to crawl under his gaze. “What kind of ring do you have on that hand?” He asked in his greasy voice. I replied an emerald, a gift from my “fella”. “Birthstone?” He wanted to know. “No,” I said, “I just love the color of green, I drive a green car.” “Ah….!” Came his rasp, a glint of greed in his eye, “The color of Money!” I took a minute to control my rising anger. “Actually,” I said coolly, “The color of growth, life, cornfields, happiness.”

“Money.” He insisted as if the only definition for happiness. “Money doesn’t provide happiness.” Came my forced calm reply.

“Oh! You got yourself a poor boy!” He gleamed. Again I tried to contain the anger he was provoking. “No, he does just fine.” I said slowly and firmly. “Happiness just doesn’t lie within money to me.” I turned back to my computer to end the conversation.

Later as I drove home the brief conversation came back to mind as I looked at freshly mown lawns along the way. Luscious green carpets with back drops of shady green trees. I thought of my home where I no longer have cable, phone service (I just use my cell phone.) or extravagant furnishings. I thought back to the previous weekend where the rooms of my home were filled with laughter as I enjoyed both of my children, soon to be son-in-law, my granddaughter and my “fella”, all in for a weekend visit.

As I parked my car only inches from where my little granddaughter and I played just a couple of days ago I felt like the richest woman on earth. As I made my way into my home, walking into my bedroom, my Bible, lying in the seat of my recliner from last night’s reading, catches my eye. The peace, joy and strength I feel here in my “inner room” as I study God’s word cannot compare with anything money can buy! I smile as I put down my purse. Mr. Fat Cat can take his green padded pockets back to the big city. He hasn’t a clue (nor does he want one) what true happiness is.

“Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.”

Proverbs 11:28

“For the love of money is the root of all evil.”

1 Timothy 6:10