That Very First Thought

The many ways love and money get confounded: substitute in every sentence using the word "money", "love" instead. "How much money will you give me?" See? The way that generosity of heart, true giving of one's self, one's time, one's life is reflected in the manner of generosity with one's possessions is so unsettling, so obvious once looked at this way. And yet, money is unique, in that it can be used and enjoyed alone. It can be such a cheap substitute for real love, that demanding, difficult master. What puzzles me is how entrenched this can be, even though people recognize the issue. It makes me wonder, could money be the simple alternative to making room for another in one's life?