When Abundance Arrives Disguised: A Lesson from My Grandson

All month long, I’ve been chanting a mantra for prosperity and luck. Each day, I set my intention clearly: abundance, flow, support from the universe. As often happens with deep spiritual practice, the results showed up—but not in the way I expected.

This week, I found myself in the middle of a difficult and painful situation with my grandson. A costly mistake—born from impulsivity and poor judgment—left me having to pay a significant sum of money. It wasn’t the first time, but it was by far the most impactful. And the kind of drama that makes you pause and ask life some serious questions.

For years, we’ve encouraged him to seek counseling. His tendency to be overly trusting and reactive has led to many avoidable missteps. But pride held him back—he thought he could handle it all himself. This time, however, something shifted. The weight of the consequences landed. He realized he couldn’t keep doing it alone. For the first time, he admitted he needed help. That moment—his awakening—was a breakthrough.

And here’s the twist: this is abundance.

We often think of prosperity as money in the bank, things going smoothly, luck rolling our way. But sometimes, abundance shows up as a reckoning. Sometimes it comes wrapped in frustration and disappointment. In this case, my prosperity mantra didn’t prevent a financial loss—but it did open a door to emotional growth and long-overdue insight. My grandson took a step he’s resisted for years. He reached for something deeper than money. He reached for healing.

I’m learning that abundance is not just what flows to us—but also what flows through us. It’s not always convenient or easy. Sometimes it looks like hardship. But it almost always brings a hidden treasure if we stay open to the lesson.

There’s a richness in watching someone you love grow, even if the path is rocky. There’s a deep kind of prosperity in knowing your family is beginning to face truths, take responsibility, and ask for help.

So yes, I will keep chanting for abundance. But I’ll remember now to trust that it may arrive dressed as challenge, as consequence, as truth-telling. And maybe—just maybe—that’s the most powerful kind of abundance there is.