Kathy: My parents taught me that salvation came by grace, and that honoring God was a daily response to that grace. Growing up, we did not have discretionary money for extras, even simple things like hula hoops when other kids had them. My parents were not trying to deprive us. They were practicing stewardship. They lived modestly on purpose, staying within their means and keeping their priorities clear. That example shaped my view of money as something to manage carefully and hold with gratitude.
Gary: I grew up with similar values. My parents owned one car and coordinated everything around it, making do without complaint. My mother also had a way of turning limited resources into something meaningful. At Christmas, she packed boxes with small gifts that were often handmade or secondhand, but always wrapped with care. She showed us that generosity is not measured by price, but by intention.
I remember saving money from paper routes and mowing lawns to buy a shortwave radio. My mother initially thought it was a hobby for wealthier kids, but she let me work for it and learn what patience and persistence can provide. Later in college, I received a telegram from my mother telling me my father had finally gotten his first raise in twenty years. I still remember how proud they were, and how steady they stayed through all those years. That kind of perseverance leaves a mark.
Kathy & Gary: Faith was not something our parents kept separate from the rest of life. It shaped their choices, their discipline, and the way they treated others. It taught us how to value sacrifice, how to live with humility, and how to hold money and possessions in proper perspective. Over time, that foundation became more than a belief system. It became the way we understand purpose, responsibility, and what it means to build a life that lasts. We hope these stories illustrate how our values were not just a theological legacy handed down, but morphed us into fully embodied new beings, where faith is still practiced in not only our small acts of devotion, but also in our long-term goals.
*Not employees of Cetera