What makes things matter?

Hmmm.  Here's what's helping me learn.

We have a dog named Bear.  He's sort of a pain...he won't let you talk to him without trying to bite your face (in a loving but wet bad breath sort of way...).  He makes a huge mess when he eats or drinks.  He eats all kinds of things not meant for consumption...He struggles with the whole housebroken thing....Lots of annoying traits.

But something happened a couple of weeks ago.  Bear got very sick.  Super sick.  He ate more of those things he shouldn't, and had a major, life threatening bowel obstruction.   The only treatment was surgery which cost a WHOLE lot of money.  Money isn't coming into our household like it used to and we had a decision to make.  Spend the money or say goodbye to the dog.

We spent the money.

Here's the interesting part.  Now I find myself so incredibly attached to this dog.  I want to be in his face...I want his attention.  I am totally in love with this dog.  Why?

I think...it's because I invested in him.  When we spent the money, we 'bought' more ownership...once we put our money on him...our heart followed.

Interesting.  What else works this way?  Any ideas?

I'm thinking generosity.  Generosity to our friends, to our city, to our church. Once we commit with our checkbook, amazing things happen in our hearts.