Recently, one of my daughters was having a conversation with a friend who has autism.
Apparently she had asked him, “do you know what girls like?”
To which he replied, “diamonds, all girls want is diamonds.”
Not a bad generalization, for one whose diagnosis would tell us that this is not a cognitive strength.
It is a generalization that many men make, that many people make. The generalization that what people really want is something expensive, shiny, flashy. But, is that what people really want? need?
To look at life perspective, I often look at the end of life.
With a hubby whose life work is that of pastoring, I hear of deathbed experiences on a regular basis. I hear of what is desired most, what is appreciated most, what is sobbed for the most. Never has hubby come home and shared that someone died dreaming of diamonds, of fancy sports cars or expensive homes.
What they speak of is relationships.
Times spent with loved ones. Memories of vacations and dinners around the table. Memories of working on gardens and homework. Memories of Sunday drives, and a God who didn’t only mean something on the Sabbath.
What do we want to give to those who we love?
What memories do we want most to leave?
Diamonds? or days together?
“We don’t need more things.
We need more meaning.
God. is. here.
The meaning unfolds in the ordinary.
Wow. Thank you. Yes.”
Ann Voskamp
