Rich or Blessed?

Two women are invited to an office party. The first is very wealthy, she eats gourmet meals, drinks fine wine, and travels abroad. As it seems to everyone she meets, she has the world by its heels. Her attendance at the office party is a necessary nuisance. Her father owns the company and he always wants to show off his little girl. She sighs at the invitation, but decides that if she has to go she will be wearing the latest trend of clothing. She heads straight to the designer boutiques and buys several outfits with shoes and handbags to match. She returns home a little discouraged, she wasn't impressed with the new spring line, the trip was not as fun as she had hoped. She tries the clothes on again thinking one will stand out, but alas none of them will work. She consoles herself with a glass of red wine and decides tomorrow will be a better day. Shopping the next day is unsuccessful, she blames the clerk for her misfortune and returns home. She takes her frustrations out on the treadmill thinking if she loses at few pounds by the party maybe that will brighten her spirits. She returns home in time for another gourmet meal, which she only nibbles at thanks to her new diet, and exhausted she heads upstairs to lay down. Even though her bed is made with the highest quality sheets and the mattress is brand new she still and turns tosses all night, sleeps has not come easy for a few years now.

Money is the main obstacle in the second woman's life. Her husband has recently been laid off and she has become the sole bread winner. The bill collectors have started to call and her family is beginning to worry. Their diet has consisted mostly of beans and rice, vegetables, and bowls of cold cereal. She is really at the end of her rope, but is trying not to show it so her husband will not be hurt. She prays every night for God's grace to carry them through just one more day. The party invitation is met with a long sigh. She is up for a raise and wants to go to show her enthusiasm about the team and company. She enjoys her job and the people she works with, this is just not a good time for a party. She sets the invite aside and determines that she will worry about it another day. The week before the party she moans to a friend that she has nothing to wear. Her friend gives her a little hope, there is a dress she just had cleaned that might fit. The generous friend arrives later with a gorgeous dress, now if only it will fit. She holds her breathe as the zipper is zipped, looks in the mirror and her friend squeals. It really does fit her perfectly, those beans and rice have helped lose a few pounds. She pulls out her old heels from the closet and does a little twirl for the mirror. Her husband walks in and raises his eye brows, now that's a look she hasn't seen for a while. She smiles back and in her head whispers a prayer. Thank you...

"That everyone may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his toil-this IS a gift from God."
Ecclesiates. 2:13 (emphasis mine)