Money Stories

Well, these past weeks and months I very often had to do with money. Bills had to be paid, subscriptions and insurances had to be cancelled, forms to be filled in to claim money we are entitled to ... and finally my parents' bank accounts will be closed down and the money divided among us heirs. Not that I am filthy rich now - but when I travel to China one day I will think of my parents who made it possible by saving money and passing it on to us.

I miss them. Now I am no longer anybody's child - I have finally grown up. But I grew up with their love and care and I am grateful for it.

When I went through my parents' empty house with the landlord, he found a German Deutsch Mark Pfenning. The Deutsche Mark was the currency before the Euro was introduced and one Pfennig was the smallest coin. People used to keep one for good luck - so I keep my Good Luck Pfennig, which is like a greeting from my parents.

And the other day , when I tidied up my son's bedroom, I found a lot of small change that he said I could keep. I put it into the box with other stray coins I have collected during the past year and took it all to the bank . The total amount was about 50 USD which I donated to Jackie Chan's Build a  School charity.

Money can make you desperate, particularly when you  need some to feed your family or pay for your children's education. It can poison people's hearts, make them greedy, thrifty and hard. People kill for it, commit crimes, exploit , deceive and lie for it.

But money can also be connected with love. Like my parents' love for us. Like the small coins that get together to help.

If you have enough or more than enough money, don't let it  rule you. Let your heart rule over your money.