Treasures – What Makes a Treasure?

A recent request to write about something I treasure got me thinking. I wrote about a scrapbook. Another person wrote about a piece of jewelry. Another person selected a piece of artwork. In every case, the item was valued because it represented a person in our lives who mattered and was loved a lot. Because of love and admiration for the original owner, the item was treasured and became more important. Without the connection to a loved, admired individual, the choice might not have achieved the rank of something treasured.

This exercise was evidence that the most important treasures in our lives are people, not things or money. If we want to become rich in treasure, we are well advised to invest our time and energies into developing happy, meaningful relationships with people. One help to achieve pleasant relationships with people is to become a good communicator of our love and admiration for others. Whenever possible put their best interest ahead of our own. Find effective ways to let the people you care about know it. Written and spoken words, helpful deeds, and thoughtful actions go a long way. Minimizing negative comments or words that can be construed as critical helps prevent a relationship from becoming strained. Be cautious not to require a lot of attention so we are not the kind of friend that wears others out with our neediness. God, help us hear your  guidance on how to become a friend to a variety of people without compromising ourselves but   appreciating each other—warts and all.