Let's Make a Trade

"You gave up something and got something else. Or you worked for something. You paid some way for everything that was any good...Enjoying living was learning to get your money's worth and knowing when you had it. You could get your money's worth," (page 153).

Often times we are led to believe that the best things in life come free. Maybe that's true in some cases- laughter, for instance. But even then, we all suffer a stomach cramp or wet pants, right? I can see where Jake is coming from in this chapter of the book. Successes and rewards feel so much more valuable and enjoyable when you know you worked your butt off to receive them. Sure, free money is awesome. I love when my grandpa hands me a twenty for no reason at all. But free money is more freely spent. Think about it. When you've put in hard hours to earn the money you have, you want to hold onto it and save it for something worthy and deserving of your effort. However, when it's mom's credit card, who cares because it is not your own money being spent. The same thing can be said about school work. It feels amazing to receive an A+ on a paper you have been editing and re-editing for weeks. But receiving an A+ on a test you cheated on is not something you remember months down the road. What about love? You work hard every day to show the person you are affectionate about how much you care. That is why it hurts like hell when it doesn't work out. You GIVE your whole heart to someone, and the outcome is in their hands. How about your faith? Now that is really hard work. You sit and contemplate what to believe and who to believe in, attend church with the sometimes SUPER boring scripture readings, and you pray long and hard for God to stand by you through a difficult time. However, in the end, it is worth every second you spend dedicated to figuring it all out. For every hardship there is a benefit; it is up to us to find them.