Tag Archive | money

The Battle for Contentment

Jul17

Aaahhh contentment… we sometimes forget how much we need this!  And, have you noticed,  in this world of technology it’s getting more and more difficult to achieve?  We have, at our fingertips, the ability to see all that’s out there… and all that everyone else already has.  Just by logging on and connecting yourself with your friends and acquaintances, you can see what they’re up to, their fun activities, how skinny they are, latest vacation, new house, new car, job promotions…

Or how about some of the shows out there?  Besides watching baseball games with my family, I do have a couple of favorite programs… for some reason, I am HOOKED on House Hunters and House Hunters, International.  But, I must admit, when I hear what some of the budgets are that these 20-something-year-olds have as they are house shopping… in Italy… I’m floored!  Anyone else wondering how in the world can they pull that off?  What do they DO for a living?  

Then you put in your tray of leftovers to reheat, tell your kids to quit fighting, and call your husband so you can coordinate when to pick him up from work and make it to the mechanic’s on time to pick up your newly patched 11-year-old van.  (Ahem.)

Well, it really all comes down to contentment, doesn’t it?   And one of the main reasons we have to battle for it is because it’s often accompanied by a pair of two ugly step-sisters… Coveting and Comparing.   The minute we start coveting what we don’t have, and comparing ourselves to everyone else (and their things), it’s downhill from there.

And, at least for me, it’s not just the material things that are easy to pine for.  Maybe it’s accomplishments I see other moms cranking out, all while my major achievements revolved around getting the shower scrubbed and a button re-sewn on my husband’s shirt.  Maybe it’s focusing too much on how ‘godly’ another family seems in comparison to our own.  Or how easy other people’s children seem to be… they’re tutoring their classmates in math, canning the family’s homegrown vegetables, and never have to be asked twice to do anything.  Meanwhile we’re happy that our child used a napkin at the dinner table. (Ahem.)

I heard a great sermon on this once.  The pastor was saying that we need to look at what we have as a bag that the Lord packed just for us, for His reasons.  And the problems come when we start taking our eyes off of our own bag and start looking around at what is in everyone else’s bag.

But God owes us no explanation as to why He has arranged things as He has.  It’s for His purposes.  And, often, if we take a closer look at what is in our bag, we discover some great things!  Things we miss if all we do is look over the fence at our neighbor’s novelties.

One of the greatest blessings is when the Lord gives us contentment to go along with our goods.

Let’s go to scripture for this one.  I think the Apostle Paul has given us two wonderful verses on this:

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” 1 Timothy 6:6-7 NIV (emphasis mine).

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13, NIV (emphasis mine).

We will often see things that others have and wish we had them.  But our effort should be spent on enjoying the blessings that we did receive.  And if there are things that others have that you are desiring for yourself, then be inspired (not jealous) to attain those things if the Lord allows it.  And always seek out your heart’s honest reasons as to why you are desiring something… is that item/activity/achievement something that will be helpful to you and your family, or is it something you are desiring for your image and keeping up with the Joneses?  Will it be damaging for your family if you were to attain it?

And if He just doesn’t seem to bless you in the way that you want, then be content knowing that He is in control and will give you the things that are perfectly suited for you.  Just like a true parent, He doesn’t allow us to have everything under the sun… it wouldn’t be right for our spirits.

If you feel you need a kickstart in contentment, start with reminding yourself of the basics that you have.  The fact that you are sitting here reading this post means you are in a place that has modern technology.  Which probably means you also have access to other basic needs… clean, running water at the turn of a faucet, electricity, modern appliances, grocery stores, decent housing.  And again, if you’re reading this, you probably have decent vision, and hopefully good hearing to go with it.  Do you live in a place where you can read your Bible without fear, and worship where you please?

I know those might seem like silly examples, but unless you suddenly lose any of those blessings, it can sometimes be so easy to take them for granted.  So when you finish reading this, try to think of ten things you may have forgotten to thank the Lord for lately (and I’m going to do the same!)  And hopefully if we get in the habit of doing that regularly, it will help us to stop looking inside everyone else’s bag and start being thankful for our own! :-)

The Wonders of Goodwill

Jul2

Frugality… Never run from it.  It’s not an idea of being cheap.  It’s the idea of being wise with your dollars.  And this applies to all ladies… single, married, no children, or a houseful.  Make those dollars stretch!

So, if you haven’t already, start employing your local Goodwill (or any other trusty thrift shop) into your weaponry of paycheck power.  I touched on this a little in the “Bring Back the Skirts!” posting.  So now let’s delve a little deeper, shall we?

Let me first recognize the fact that some people might be a little put off at buying used clothing.  I get it.  Used to be that way, myself.  In fact, I DISTINCTLY remember going to a thrift shop with my mom and grandma when I was about 12 years old.  I remember it well because the entire time we were there, I didn’t touch anything.  A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G. I purposely kept a nice wide berth between myself and every little round rack of clothing in that place.  “Ewww!” was the only phrase that kept going through my mind.   Can you say, ‘snob-beee’? Sheesh!!

Then, fast-forward quite a few years, where the mortgage and putting-food-on-the-table realities hit.  Then you start having kids and begin the rituals of exchanging all their outgrown outfits with all your friends’ kids’ outfits, which comes after you’ve exchanged all your maternity outfits with those same friends.  And suddenly, voila!… you have fully immersed yourself in the “Hey, it’s new to ME!” attitude in your willingness to wear others’ cast-offs.

And now you see Goodwill (henceforth, ‘GW’) with new eyes… trained, appreciative eyes!  One more thing to note… GW definitely varies by store, as far as what kinds of goodies you can expect to find.  Some totally rock with great stuff, and some are, uh, not like that.  You’ll have to check them out yourself to see where the good pickings are.  One of my girlfriends has a great one she visits on the way to her mom’s house, which she has appropriately dubbed “The Neiman Marcus Goodwill”. :-)   Hopefully you can find one of those!

So, a few weekends ago, my glorious husband greatly blessed me with a day to myself while he took the kids to the movies and other fun stuff.  His parting words were, “Why don’t you head out for a while, grab a Starbucks or something, maybe go do a little shopping for yourself?”  DING DING DING!!! Music to my ears, ladies.  I’m truthfully not a huge shopper, but this was on the heels of a very long, weary week.  To quote the movie, Airplane!, I was about two steps away from being a “quivering, wasted piece of junk.”  And Hubby had tuned in.  I love my husband.

So, the FIRST thought that popped in my head was to hit our GW.  And lo and behold, to my sweet amazement, I walked in and discovered it was HALF-PRICE SATURDAY!!!  Everything in the store… everything, was half-off.  LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!

Okay, so after a few hours of very relaxed, peaceful, shuffling back-and-forth in the store, trying on all my selections, etc., here’s the final treasure tally:

3 ladies’ skirts, 3 ladies’ shorts, 3 ladies’ shirts, 1 men’s shirt, 1 men’s shorts, 2 girls’ shirts, 1 pair of dress sandals, 2 summer scarves, 1 large white ceramic mixing bowl, a pair of ceramic salt and pepper shakers, a gravy boat, and to top it off, a VHS copy of the original Footloose!.  All for a whopping total of $52.00!  Twenty items for fifty-two screaming bucks.

I outfitted our entire family with some new clothing selections, our kitchen with new… kitchen stuff, and added a great 80′s movie to our entertainment shelf.  All for $52.00.  Let’s just say, for giggles, I bought all of those items at their original, fresh-from-the-factory price.  Even if we put an average, ridiculous price of $10.00 on each item, I would have paid $200.00.  And I know the majority of those items would have been well over $10.00.

So, be frugal, gals.  Your husband will greatly appreciate it, and so will your checkbook.  And if you’re still totally creeped out by other people’s germs… well you gotta cut loose, footloose, kick off the Sunday shoes…! :-D

Now enjoy having that song stuck in your head for the rest of the day.  You’re welcome. ;-)