What would you do with $1 million?

Today, the kids and my husband were playing a "game"... My husband asked them... What would you do with $1 million? It's something we all think about from time to time, and most of us probably come up with a lot of the same answers... Pay off debt, buy a house, give something to our parents... perhaps IF there is money left over, give it away to charity. Of course, my children were no different then anyone else... They would want a new house, a new car, video games, maybe give some money to family. At least they thought about giving some of the money away. They are children, still in that "ego-centric" time of their lives, so even just that little glimpse of giving is important in my eyes.

This past week, as part of my job, I had to make our monthly newsletter. In it, our pastor makes a "stewardship" plea to the congregation for "thanks giving".  Of course I had read through this as I was proofreading the newsletter. On of our pastor's points was to give FIRST... First givings.  Think about it. What if you gave or donated your money FIRST instead of at the end IF you had money left over.  It's pretty crazy to think of. I mean, we all have household budgets to maintain.  We all have responsibilities to our families and to what we need to provide.  Of course there are things that we don't need. We don't need to go out to dinner, it is cheaper and more healthy to buy food from a grocery store and prepare it ourselves.  We don't need to purchase that new video game, go out to the movies, etc... though entertainment is an important part of being healthy and God did tell us to live life, and live it abundantly... but to what end.  So, hm... I have contemplated this "first giving", and especially in light of this game that my children played with their dad.

What would I do with $1 million?  At first, everything that I owe goes through my mind! oh, to be out of debt! How wonderful that would be... But really, If I simply won $1 million and didn't spend a dime on myself, would I be better off or worse off? I would still have the debt, but then I would have that debt if I didn't win $1 mil.  I would still have all my old stuff, some of it falling apart, not working, barely working ... but that I would have that regardless of my winnings.  Hm.. something to think about, huh? I already have such a blessed life. We are up to our ears in debt, it's true. We have items that we want to buy, things that would definitely make life easier, but... it is not like we are going to be worse off if we won $1 million and spend none of it on those things.

I have been thinking about thoughtful Christmas, and how this year... toys and materials are not a priority... they are great sometimes to have, and there is some things that we really want, but it's not all about toys and materials. This year, I want to give back, in a way I never have before.  So... I made a list of all the local organizations that I want to support.  I will be giving to those organizations instead of Christmas gifts to family and friends.  I may not be able to give much, but it will be thoughtful.  It is amazing how far $20 can go. And as I think about my $1 million... I think that I would first give to these organizations, before giving to myself.  And the more I think about that, the more I think that in the end, I would be BETTER off.  I would feel that I was doing the most good with what I had been given.

So, what would YOU do with $1 million. And though you don't have $1 million, what will you do with what you have been given?

My local organizations:
Humboldt Wildlife Foundation
Companion Animal Foundation
Eureka Symphony Orchestra
Humboldt Community Breast Health Project
Humboldt County Library
The Church of the Joyful Healer