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It seems that for many people in today's society, money has become the thing they most cherish. It is apparent in the endless hours many people devote to their job. For some, their identity is wrapped into how much money they have.

Money may be the only thing they even want to talk about, or the measure by which they judge themselves and others. With the constant talk of how to make money, or save money, it may lead you to wonder: Is money more important than family in today's society?

The answer to that is not a clear-cut one, sadly. While you would think that family would always come first and be the most cherished thing for a person, that is not always the case.

Don't be mistaken, though. For millions of people, family still comes first. Without family, many people realize they would have very little in their lives, or that the things they had would no longer mean much.

For people with real values, they realize that money is a means to support their families. But, as long as their basic needs are being met, they would rather be poor but surrounded by family than rich and alone. Such people recognize the value of love and of human connectedness. They realize that life is about giving and being there for others.

However, not all people feel this way, especially in today's materialistic society. Many, in fact, value money far more than anything else.

They dream of having money, and they will go to any end to acquire it. They will sacrifice having a family, in the name of attaining a certain career level. Some may have a family, but completely neglect it due to work and the priorities placed on work.

These people may think they love their families, but their energies, time and devotion are all dedicated to their jobs. Remember, it is in our actions that we truly show where are priorities are.

Even worse, countless people feel that as long as they make money and can buy their kids whatever gadgets or clothes they may desire, then they are being good to their family. That's right. People mistakenly believe that they can buy their children's love, or substitute their lack of parenting with monetary things.

The priority placed on money is evident everywhere you look. You can read the news on any given day and see tragic and horrific results of the breakdown of the family.

Those who place money before family are failing to teach their children proper values, and they are not properly guiding them through key stages of a child's development. Children today are often left with no role model in the home. Instead they turn to television and video games for companionship.

Clearly, they will not be taught values or compassion through such medium. Instead, they are likely to be exposed to violent images or self-centered fictitious characters. And, there will later be consequences for these children's lack of parenting.

In conclusion, many would argue that money is not more important than family. Some live by that code, and honor it. They do make time for their families, and they choose to teach them true values.

However, many may say that money is not more important than family, but live in a way that does not reflect this sentiment. In fact, these people instead worship money and do not prioritize being there for their families.

There are some shades of grey, of course. Let's hope, though, that one day soon there will be a shift - one in which more people start to realize that money will not buy them happiness. Yes, let's hope that more people will remember that one of their top priorities should be to their loved ones, and not to the almighty dollar.

Learn more about this author, Ann E. Smith.
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