The thing about 7 year olds.

Today I turned 37. If you’re still shopping for a gift, I’m a medium t-shirt.

And as a man in his late 30s, with gray hair, I like to think I am smart-ish.

But sometimes my kids remind me that I overcomplicate things. I make them convoluted so that I won’t have to do them or act on them. Then, while driving on a Sunday morning my kids say something that crashes me back down to earth. Something simple and true and powerful.

Last weekend, while headed to church, McRae, my 7 year old said:

“If you’re rich, but not generous, you’re actually poor.”

And she’s right.

If your money becomes your sense of self worth, you’re poor.

If your money becomes your identity, you’re poor.

If your money becomes your reason to live, you’re poor.

May we all know the kind of wealth that matters most in 2013.