Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for the value of money that my parents instilled in me. As I was growing up, I truly had no idea that we weren't 'rich'. I had one of the most beautiful childhoods that when I describe it I use words like 'fairy tale' and 'perfect'. My parents were always hugging and kissing which provided a constant sense of security. We always had a hot-home cooked meal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We ate together as a family all the time, too. My Mom worked very hard to provide a loving and warm home for us. I recall my Mom telling us the story of when money was tight and we ate beans and rice for over a month. I have no recollection of that. My parents would scrimp and save to do nice things for us. I will never forget those nice things. When they had saved enough to buy a home, my Dad did all the extra work around the house...remodeling and redoing bedrooms and the kitchen himself. I think I remember him reading a book on how to do it. The pride I got from seeing my Dad make something from nothing was always a "My Dad is smarter than your Dad!" feeling. My friends always wanted to be at our house. They said my parents were cool. I never quite got that, but I saw that there home lives might not have had what, I at the time, was taking for granted. A Mom that was there when I got home from school. A Dad that couldn't keep his hands off my Mom.

My Mom taught us how important we were to the functionality of our home. We had chores to do, that yes I hated, but now I see what a blessing it was. We got allowances religiously every Sunday. We would usually buy candy, since it was not something we were allowed to have during the week. My sister and I shared a room, wore hand me downs, and were happy as clams. We totally thought we were 'pretty well off'. My parents think that is funny now.

When I turned 16 and got my first real job, working at a copy center, my parents started to really teach me about the value of money. The rule went like this: 30% went into the bank, 30% went into my pocket, and the last 30% went to the household needs. Now that I was getting a paycheck, and since I was a member of this household, I was going to contribute. Boy, did I hate it then...but, I see now that it has been a saving grace for our family and our finances, as well. My friends would tell me that I needed to 'talk' to my parents about this. That they were being unfair. Talk to my parents? I don't think so. I did not question their authority or their decisions...at least not out loud. I started to see the reward of contributing. I had taken for granted for 16 years that there was always food on the table and a warm bed to sleep on, but now my Mom was letting me in on what the money I had just contributed went to. "I just used the money you gave me to buy groceries. We didn't have money to buy any, so your job is really helping." What? you didn't have money? I helped? Wow, I felt so important, so needed, so much a part of something bigger.

If my parents had not instilled this wonderful value in me, I think I probably would have been in a huge hole right now. However, it kept me wary of credit cards, which I have never had, and it made me wary of buying things that were overpriced and not needed. I am a huge clearance and bargain shopper. I am so not materialistic and I am also learning that the things I 'want' can be so unnecessary and that God may want me to give instead of get. So, I have to make sure that you understand that my parents, above all, taught me to give my first fruits to the Lord. Tithing was just a part of who I was so now as we are instilling this in our children, they will reap the same rewards that I did. They will know that money is not something to be treated lightly.

There are days that it feels like things are so tight that we wonder where we went wrong. Then there are days that I can go and get my toes done. Either way, God has always provided beyond measure. We have never gone without a place to lay our heads or a meal. Putting HIM first, getting our finances in order, and then maintaining the values my parents taught me has been such a blessing. I am looking forward to seeing how God is going to continually provide as our family continually expands. He promises to take care of us in His Word, and He is faithful to honor his promises. For that I am most thankful!!