Things money can’t buy
Money can prolong life, but it can’t buy life. If I had not been given the means to have my cancer of the cervix treated at PGH, I would not be around today. That was 21 years ago, and I’m still counting.
Twenty-seven cobalt exposures, a three-day radium implant plus board and lodging was a huge dent in our pocketbook. God certainly provided, and I survived. However, we all know that one day, all of us will go home to our heavenly Father.
When I see so many friends suffering not only physical pain but also financial pain, I know more or less what they are going through. We all want to save lives, especially those of our loved ones, but we can only do so much.
My good friend Mon Isberto had to let go of his mom recently. I know Mon did everything to prolong her life, but it was time for her to go. Condolence, Mon.
I know of something else money can’t buy. It’s the look of happiness on a mom’s face as she meets her daughter and her family at the airport, especially when the daughter has been abroad for some time. Fleeting moments such as these, one cannot predict. Can that simple moment be equated to money?
My grandchildren, like all grandchildren in the world, give so much joy. I have a very loquacious and mischievous grandson who really tickles my funny bone. One time his brother saw him getting a doughnut from the fridge. The brother asked, “What are you going to do with that?” Manny, my naughty one, answered, “What do you think? I shall just look at it?” I had a hard time biting my lips to prevent a gurgle of laughter from escaping. That moment when a mischievous gleam in his eyes came through almost had me choking as a spasm of giggles came through. That moment cannot be bought.
“Hope springs eternal in the human breast.” The thousands of people who line up to buy their lotto tickets are, of course, shelling out money, but the dreams that they have when they think of a possible winning is also something that one cannot equate with money.
I used to look down on taxi drivers who while their earnings away on “tong-it” or “piat-piat” (both games used for gambling). Today while I still do not condone or approve of people who do not have anything extra to gamble, I understand a bit of what they enjoy.
My other window in the condo overlooks a huge mango tree which trisikads (a bicycle manned by a person used as transportation for by-roads) use as their terminal. While waiting for passengers, they play “hantak” (gambling game using coins). I hear a lot of laughter, a lot of teasing and so much free laughter enjoyed by the group. I suppose win or lose they are able to enjoy themselves. Again I do not approve, but I understand.
Now let’s go to the more serious examples of things money can’t buy.
Trust is such a huge investment in a person, and trust has to be earned. Money can never buy trust. When you give your love to someone and he loves you back, both of you know that the words are not idle words. It is backed by loyalty, duration of forever and fidelity. A lot of men and women have been so disillusioned when a full pocketbook is the basis of one’s love. Woe is the person when the pocketbook empties.
One can also not buy “sacrifice.” A mother will gladly give up her life’s savings to save a son or daughter’s life. A wife will serve patiently and lovingly irritable ailing husbands who will not even take their medication. There are really a thousand and one things money can’t buy.
I wish money could take away the physical pains which pain killers can’t remove. I wish there was a medicine for heartbreak! I wish I could conjure at a moment’s notice the presence of someone with that lopsided sheepish engaging smile when he says, “I will try!” Those wishes I can’t buy!
Artists are able to capture through paintings, sculpture or photos birds sitting on a line in military formation or herons standing on one leg in an open rice field.
God has really given us so many things for free. Memories of a given hug or a spreading blush from someone who insists that “I don’t give promises or take them lightly” are just a few instances when we know that money cannot buy most things!