I had been keeping my money, bus pass and credit cards in one
of those cheap little plastic folders they give you from the
bank. Not surprisingly, it tore and I was checking it every
few minutes to make sure nothing had fallen out. Likewise, I
kept my change accessible in the front pocket of my purse
along with my cell phone and keys, which made it handy but
required my digging beyond my cell phone and keys each
time.
I needed a wallet, but not liking the bulk of one and not
wanting to spend money on one — which would have made
the wallet that much thinner, my thoughts turned to my son
who, since his bar-mitzva, has almost as many wallets as I
have debts, all presents from people who undoubtedly have
recognized he is more responsible with money than I am.
I asked my son if he could spare one from his collection. I
had my eye on a thin, simple Velcro number. He instead
suggested I take a nicer, multi-purpose leather model with a
more feminine look. He pointed out that it had place for
credit cards, bills, pictures, and change. I hesitatingly
accepted his generous money vessel and concentrated my few
items in it.
Then something noteworthy happened. When I went to pay for
our bus fare that afternoon and opened my new wallet to take
out the bills, I suddenly felt more respectable. My money had
a place of dignity and it seemed safe and secure instead of
on the verge of jumping out.
To a certain extent and on a certain even spiritual level,
money treats us the way we treat it. If we treat it with
disdain and throw it every which way in our purse, it will be
insulted and disappear or play hard-to-get. If, however, we
treat it to a good home and pleasant surroundings, it will be
more inclined to stick around and cooperate when we need
it.
Interestingly enough, I seem to have more money on me in the
last few days since I got my new wallet, may it increase!
It may be that the container doesn't always reflect the
contents within. However, there's something to be said about
respecting the gifts that Hashem gives us and showing the
respect and appreciation due them.
