Money cannot buy happiness, says the proverb. And the ambitious ones immediately add: It cannot buy happiness, but it helps a bit.

Is that really so? Let's hear a little story about it.

Marcelo used to live dreaming of wealth. Every week he would set aside the money and go bet on the lottery.

At night, in the poor shanty, he would make plans for when he becomes a millionaire.

Ah - so he thought - I'll be a happy one on Earth. He would picture mansions, cars, fancy clothes, laughing friends. Finally, a life of comfort and joy.

In the morning, he would head to work, with the ticket in his worn out pants pocket. His heart would pound and his hands would slightly tremble before checking the result.

Negative! He would countercheck two or three times and, finally, would dispose off the paper, disconsolate. And at that time he would always remember Anette.

He has long loved Anette. The girl liked him, but she did not want to marry a pauper one.

Days have passed. One warm afternoon, a rather expensive car parked before Anette's house.

An elegant man stepped out of the car. He went to the girl and handed her a small package. She opened it. The jewel left her speechless.

She looked at the man. It was Marcelo. He had hit the lottery numbers. He was rich.

They have got married. And they were happy at first.

Decades later, Marcelo had his soul in tatters. Anette had become extravagant, futile. Nothing would stop her craving for perfumes, parties, clothes, handbags, travels, shoes.

Their children have been educated by nannies and teachers. As teenagers now, they would spend nights in clubs, consuming drinks and drugs, surrounded by irresponsible friends.

The spoiled kids would not respect anyone, they would mock at everything, and they would laugh at the holy things.

The house had electric fences, alarms, cameras, fierce dogs and the cars were armored. How much loneliness!

Days would coldly pass, with no noble goals. No. Definitely, Marcelo was not happy. He watched his wife and children enjoying the wealth, but leading an empty life.

Marcelo's story is more common than one thinks. How many times we put the reason to our happiness on values such as money and material assets!

Money is good when well used, when directed to useful things, for the good or solidarity.

Otherwise, it only serves to a life full of pleasures, but without any deeper meanings.

Note what millionaires' lives reveal. Is it only what appears in celebrity magazines? Is it an existence made only of joy? Certainly not.

A closer look at the news reveals the pain that visits the rich. Death also comes to them and their relatives...

Divorces, scandals, abandonment, moral misery, depression and unhappiness are present everywhere.

Not to mention those who live trapped in their houses, held hostage by their money, fearing robberies.

Is that a good life? Is it worth exchanging tranquility of a simple life for the comfort that costs peace of mind?

And what about those, who have lost their own lives because of money? Or those who were killed by their own children or partners because of inheritance? Or those who were deceived by the friends they trusted?

Will this be our ideal of life? Is it worthwhile?

Certainly not.

There is no wealth that can pay for real feelings, for the small joys of family.

No. Happiness is definitely not in the money. Happiness lingers, glorious, in clear conscience, in the little pleasures that are fruit of love, in a life made of work and dreams.

Spiritist Moment Team.
February 14.2011.