HANDLING WEALTH

Who hasn't dreamed of winning the lottery?   Isn't that why so many tickets are sold?

But lottery winners tell unbelievable stories about the corrosiveness of their windfall wealth.  Dave Ramsey says the divorce rate among Lotto winners is four-fold the national average.  He also says 65% of the winners are bankrupt within 15 years.   click

It would seem that when we mud-wrestle with money, money wins.  Of course, that would not happen to ME; I could manage it better.  Uh huh.  Let's just say that wealth can reveal a man's mettle.

Could we also say then, that men who have handled wealth well over forty years...have proven themselves?  Not in the political world.

Mitt Romney takes a beating for what he has accomplished in life.  Why would that be?  Do we lust for Lotto money, but not for honest gain?

Romney's critics are curiously silent about their own wealthy pals.  Methinks it curious that neither John Kennedy nor John Kerry are criticized because they are rich.  Let's unpack that...

JFK inherited his wealth; JK married his.

On the other hand, Mitt Romney inherited dollars earned from an immigrant father who came to this country with no money/education.  George Romney rose to the pinnacle of success in business (running American Motors) and politics (becoming the Governor of Michigan).

When Mitt inherited his wealth, what did he do with it?  He gave it all to charity.  Then he proceeded to make his own money.  Isn't that laudable?  Since then, Mitt takes his own earnings and regularly gives beyond a tithe (to repeat...he gives BEYOND A TITHE) to those less fortunate.  Isn't that laudable?

JFK was a President who inspired the country, but was personally flawed.  John Kerry married the Heinz ketchup fortune and gives a pittance to charity.  click  Those are not mean-spirited comments, but defining facts.

May I stop and smile just now?  Here I am writing in defense of a man who has my tepid support.  Mitt Romney was not my candidate of choice.

But here are three things I CAN say on Governor Romney's behalf:

1.  Mitt has passed through the fire of handling personal wealth, coming out on the other side with an "A".

2.  He has my applause for his 43- year-commitment to Ann and their five boys.  Marriage and family are also revealing fires.

3.  The Governor has a resume of business success and the Lord knows Uncle Sam needs some help running the store.

So the next time Mitt is criticized for being a plastic Ken doll, could we ask for a more substantive evaluation of a life well lived?  And when the Governor is criticized for being rich, can we agree that he is living the American dream, and his stewardship brings blessing to many?

Each of us have a life story to back up what we say.  Mitt Romney's life story sparkles.