We have ALL heard these words, but how many of us have actually applied them to our lives. It is so easy to live lifestyles that are so far from what we can afford and that leads to extreme debt and, in the end, unhappiness.
We have too. We have wanted things we couldn’t afford. We bought a house last year….talk about NEEDING things that just can’t be paid for right then. We had a baby last year…I don’t even need to explain that one. But through it all….I believe we have learned and found what works best for us!
On my 101 in 1001, #91 said to leave the credit card at home for one month. Well, I am proud to say that we have not used our credit card in MONTHS! It feels so good. Have we had to say no to things? Yes. Have we had to limit our traveling? Yes. Have we had to limit dinner and lunches out? Yes. But guess what…..we survived and we are HAPPY! Yay!
This year we had many “plans” that are going to have to be canceled. Life happened again. Now once again, we are saving for deductibles and doctor visits and bills rather than saving for extras. We are celebrating our 2nd Anniversary….well at home. We are only going to be traveling once a month….no matter what. We are going to have a crazy November, December and January between 1st Birthday, Christmas and Our Grace Baby. I can’t even wrap my head around how it all is going to work! But it will….somehow….maybe magic….or a miracle!
Until then, I am going to try to stay as disciplined as possible. Zach is awesome….I think beyond Food….he needs nothing. He is so simple. I live pretty simply too…but I definitely stray at times.
At Mass a couple weeks ago, the reading and Gospel were all on Greed and putting our happiness into money and things. During the Homily, Deacon Greg said that in a study people were asked what salary would make their life easier….make them happier. The study showed that if someone made 25,000….50,000 would make them happy, 100,000….200,000 would make them happy. We all feel like if we just make that much more….we will be happier.
This typically means fathers working overtime and spending less time with the family. Mothers now working full time jobs and not staying home. Or both parents working overtime and someone else taking care of the kids full time. All for what….to live a lifestyle that they think will make them happy. Well, this happiness is temporary. True happiness is found in relationship through family and friendships. True happiness is loving and being loved. True happiness is forgiving and being forgiven! True happiness is focusing on what truly matters in life rather than what will temporarily give us pleasure.
The Brother in lowly circumstances should take pride in his high standing, and the rich one in his lowliness, for he will pass away “like the flower of the field.” For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass, its flower droops, and the beauty of its appearance vanishes. So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
James 1:9-11
Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13: 8
Put to death; then, the parts of you that are earthly: immortality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed hat is idolatry. Because of these the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. By these you too once conducted yourselves, when ou lived in that way. But now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths. Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all.
Colossians 3:5-11
Can you tell I am finding comfort in Scripture?
We have too. We have wanted things we couldn’t afford. We bought a house last year….talk about NEEDING things that just can’t be paid for right then. We had a baby last year…I don’t even need to explain that one. But through it all….I believe we have learned and found what works best for us!
On my 101 in 1001, #91 said to leave the credit card at home for one month. Well, I am proud to say that we have not used our credit card in MONTHS! It feels so good. Have we had to say no to things? Yes. Have we had to limit our traveling? Yes. Have we had to limit dinner and lunches out? Yes. But guess what…..we survived and we are HAPPY! Yay!
This year we had many “plans” that are going to have to be canceled. Life happened again. Now once again, we are saving for deductibles and doctor visits and bills rather than saving for extras. We are celebrating our 2nd Anniversary….well at home. We are only going to be traveling once a month….no matter what. We are going to have a crazy November, December and January between 1st Birthday, Christmas and Our Grace Baby. I can’t even wrap my head around how it all is going to work! But it will….somehow….maybe magic….or a miracle!
Until then, I am going to try to stay as disciplined as possible. Zach is awesome….I think beyond Food….he needs nothing. He is so simple. I live pretty simply too…but I definitely stray at times.
At Mass a couple weeks ago, the reading and Gospel were all on Greed and putting our happiness into money and things. During the Homily, Deacon Greg said that in a study people were asked what salary would make their life easier….make them happier. The study showed that if someone made 25,000….50,000 would make them happy, 100,000….200,000 would make them happy. We all feel like if we just make that much more….we will be happier.
This typically means fathers working overtime and spending less time with the family. Mothers now working full time jobs and not staying home. Or both parents working overtime and someone else taking care of the kids full time. All for what….to live a lifestyle that they think will make them happy. Well, this happiness is temporary. True happiness is found in relationship through family and friendships. True happiness is loving and being loved. True happiness is forgiving and being forgiven! True happiness is focusing on what truly matters in life rather than what will temporarily give us pleasure.
The Brother in lowly circumstances should take pride in his high standing, and the rich one in his lowliness, for he will pass away “like the flower of the field.” For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass, its flower droops, and the beauty of its appearance vanishes. So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
James 1:9-11
Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13: 8
Put to death; then, the parts of you that are earthly: immortality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed hat is idolatry. Because of these the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. By these you too once conducted yourselves, when ou lived in that way. But now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths. Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all.
Colossians 3:5-11
Can you tell I am finding comfort in Scripture?
3 comments:
You are right on!
So true! I love this!
A great lesson learned early. It will do you well to stick to it. The wanting will never go away but you are learning early the satisfaction of waiting for the right time. Congratulations
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