what's your return look like?

I am tickled about a conversation I recently had with my eight-year old daughter.  A few months back, I introduced her to the investment world.  Though she was only in the 3rd grade, I figured it wasn't too early to plant seeds about stewardship and building wealth. Our conversation led to her researching various companies and ultimately deciding she wanted to make and investment with her recently earned money.  

She was very selective in which company she chose to invest.  She asked questions about the company's history, looked at how stocks had performed in the past and ultimately decided to invest her money in Mondelēz International, the owners of Oreo Cookies.  She thought to herself, with Oreo cookies being a regular stock item in our pantry, every time she bit into one of those sandwich cookies she would be making money. I was proud of the thought she put into it, and as a result my husband and I matched her small investment.  
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We explained the concept of investing to her in detail including the risks and how adding to what she had invested would yield a greater return down the line, if the stocks did well.  Needless to say, she has found other things like toys, candy and slime ingredients to spend her money on, never taking our subtle suggestion to invest a little more in her stock.

So, let's fast forward.  Now it's been several months and she continues to borrow my phone to check the app to see how her stock is doing.  Her question continues to be, "How much have a made Mommy?"  Well naturally a small investment of $20.00 isn't yielding a HUGE return.  I once again explained to her that though her stock has seen some growth and loss, with her making a one-time investment and nothing more, she is not going to see the type of return she was hoping for.

As I had this conversation with her recently,  I couldn't help but think about myself and so many others, who are often looking for a return on a promise from God or a dream that He has placed deep within our heart.  However, often times, if we are honest there has been no investment made.  We caught a glimpse of the possibilities, and maybe invested a small amount of time initially, but somehow forgot about it or got side tracked with life.  Never taking the time to invest the hours, energy, creativity and prayer needed to yield a return.  For others, discouragement may have settled in after making the bear bone minimum investment, we pulled out of the deal all together because things weren't growing as fast as we would have liked them to grow.  Others miss their opportunity due to lack of knowledge, mismanagement or bad advice.  There are many reasons why opportunities to invests are missed on a daily basis.

Whatever the circumstances, it is downright foolish to expect to receive a return on an investment that hasn't been made.  With that said, I challenge you today to ask yourself the hard question.  Have you been sitting around waiting for the manifestation of a promise or dream when you haven't made the investment that is required of you?  Perhaps it is time to go back and review your "portfolio of purpose".  Have you been investing time and energy in relationships or things that will never yield a positive return?  Have you wasted precious time and energy that could have otherwise been invested in your dreams?  After you take time to review where you are, you now have a decision to make.  What will you do now?  Will you continue as you are, or will you make the necessary changes in your thoughts, habits and actions?  

Don't make the mistake that many do, waiting until a brighter day to begin investing in you and your future (i.e. after you get the degree, pay off the house, get the kids off to college, etc.).  I tell you once again, there will never be a "perfect" time to start.  I encourage you to begin the investment of time and energy now, no matter how small the investment.  Make every attempt to be consistent with it, and sooner than later you will begin to see the very thing you are investing in grow and become everything you ever imagined and more.