Counting

Last year, when my folks were planning a visit, I'd asked Daddy to pick something up for me and I'd pay him when they came down . . .  He wanted a cash transaction, so . . . I went to the bank to have the cash on me.  I was a bit shocked when he stood in my kitchen and counted the money I gave him.  I don't remember ever short changing him.  If I did, it was certainly an accident and he never said anything.  Maybe he just counts every transaction, as flesh and blood seemed to be no exception.  It did give me pause to ever consider doing business with him again though.  He's my Daddy, so it is what it is.  My parents do keep track of every dime, so it probably isn't really a personal thing, but in light of the lifestyle I have and the business I do, it does seem odd.

I've sent many orders on the promise of a check and I've never been stiffed or received a bad check.  Often times, someone includes a bit extra for my trouble or appreciation for working with them.  I'm an honest business woman and I just don't believe in being terribly distrustful.  I believe that is also an aspect of reaping and sowing.  I sow honestly, I reap honesty . . .

In the past month, I've had three financial transactions that were not small, as far as I was concerned, yet the gentlemen all said the same thing.  As I handed them the cash I repeated the amount we'd agreed upon and included the statement, "count it to make sure."  One said, "You counted it didn't you?" to which I responded, "Yes."  He responded with, "Then there's no need for me to count it."  The other two simply took the money, never looked at it, and put it in their pocket, saying, "Thank you."

These were not small ticket items either.  All of these cash transactions required a trip to the bank.

First there was the new deck.  The price of lumber for a 10' X 28' deck was not cheap ten years ago, when I designed one that we built ourselves.  This time the project was done professionally.  What can I say?  You do get what you pay for and I was delighted to pay for professional.  As stated previously, when it came time to pay, this was the gentleman who, when I told him to be sure and count it, asked me if I'd counted it.  When I nodded and said yes, he responded that there was no need for him to do it then, and handed the bank envelope to his son.

The next project was hiring a man fell some dead trees.  He's a young business man and did an amazingly efficient job.  He had to reschedule once due to a conflict of completion, but he called well ahead to reschedule, so I wasn't waiting on him, and the morning of the reschedule, he called to say he'd be on the place in within the hour.  He was here within the hour, done, paid, and gone within the next hour!  He just stuck the money in his pocket and away he went.

The third example really isn't as unique as the other two, in that I've known and done business with my hay man for several years now.  He's always been consistent with quality and delivers quite timely whether scheduled or an unexpected need.  He likes my soap and his wife likes several of my products, so we do business back and forth regularly.  He's lived here his entire life and is well known and respected throughout the area.  In country measure, we're practically neighbors, so for him to just take my money without counting doesn't seem so unusual.  The fact that we are practically neighbors and have done business for a number of years, I'm sure has enhanced our trust level, but I've known Daddy longer than I've known my hayman.  I'm truly thinking it's a matter of locale and simply "the way things are done" in this region.  I like it!

Banking Fees

It's not bad enough that interest rates are flat and have been for years, while banks think of more and more fees to add for "their services."

It's bad enough that many actually have to pay an ATM service charge to receive their automatically deposited, hard earned money.

In the link below, it's reported that one bank will actually be charging for cash deposits.

http://www.naturalnews.com/049566_bank_deposits_money_cash_crisis.html

Flocks and Herds

Sometimes in all the hoop-ti-la of this American economy, it's easy to forget that Scripture does address earthly wealth, even confirming earthly wealth is not necessarily evil, but can actually be a blessing.  There are two things we tend to overlook or equate that Scripture portrays differently.   Scripture refers to land, herds, and flocks as wealth.  Abraham even had silver.  Paul wrote, telling Timothy, it was the love of money that is the root of all evil, which says, it's about our attitude and priority rather than money, itself.   Various believers have major debates about degrees of wealth, while the fact of the matter is, by comparison, most Americans have a standard of earthly wealth far above much of the rest of the world.

When it comes to actual cash, I would not be considered a wealthy woman.  I don't have a huge nest egg saved or a big pension plan.  Just between you, me, and the fence post, I don't have a 401K, either.  I've mentioned selling what I did have in the Stock Market to invest in four legged stock, which brings me to the latest development in the flocks and herds.  Last week, Buddy Buck headed to the auction.  I included a "play by play" of his departure in last week's edition.  Well, the check from the auction house arrived.  Although the amount is nearly three times what I paid for Buddy, that's not the real measure of wealth by any means.

 Within the next six to ten weeks, Abba willing, Buddy's offspring will begin making their appearances.  If each doe has only one, which would be an unusually low average, the herd will double.  Not to count my goats before their hooves hit the ground, but twins are quite common and triplets come along with some degree of regularity, as well.  The head count of offspring isn't really where the wealth is determined here in the Land of Goshen.  The herd being doubled in size would not be practical to keep, so the majority of the young will be sold.  With the sire now off the place, I will be able to keep choice does and for the price of three kids, I'll be able to buy two young calves, but that's not really the wealth.  The wealth, in my understanding is what is perpetual.   When the does freshen, regardless of the number of kids, the fresh milk is flowing.

Fresh goat's milk is so much more valuable than money.  I, of course, drink it, but I also use it to make cheese and soap.  I cook with it and can it.  Goat's milk makes wonderful kosher ice cream and so far it's raised some really nice beef.  It seems every year someone has needed some goat's milk to nurture a hungry little mammal of some sort.  Nanny goats can raise their young, plus provide for all the rest of this as well.  One goat would be hard pressed to provide for this many needs, but a herd provides quite well.  I try to refrain from milking the first time moms as their young belong to YHWH, so unless there is an emergency, I try to make sure those kids get all the milk.

As I think of the shepherds of Bible times right up to now, the increase of flocks and herds is clearly an earthly blessing from our Creator.