Lessons

It's easy for me to know when I'm depending on myself for everything, because God quickly sends challenges I can't overcome alone. Usually, the challenges involve money, or transportation, or both. I believe it's because I'm not good with money and I'm too dependent on having my own ride (and carry this over to my kids).

The transmission went out on Danger Haley's car first. She scrapped it and Wonderful Husband and I decided we would try to get the Olds running so she could use it. Just about the time they picked up the Olds to work on it, Tiny Ninja's car started not starting again. So a few days later they picked up the Buick to work on it. It's been a week now, and neither vehicle is ready yet, so I am getting schooled in patience AGAIN.

These are expenses not planned for, in addition to getting unplanned medical expenses paid off. While I'm thinking about how to work these into the budget (I use the term VERY loosely), I think about the many things I've bought that were unnecessary in the past few months. I think about the growing yarn and pattern stash I have (when WILL I get all those works-in-mind done???). I feel guilty over my poor stewardship. I ask God to help me be a better money manager. I'll be scrupulously disciplined for the next month or so, until the challenge is met, and then I'll start getting lazy/sloppy/wasteful and eventually the whole cycle starts over.
God's patience is amazing - that he keeps having to teach me the same lessons over and over again, of patience and faithfulness and stewardship, but he doesn't abandon me and always answers my prayers for help. WH and I have been really blessed that the girls learn God's lessons more quickly and live loud for the Lord. I know parents are to teach their children God's Word and His ways, but sometimes I think they're teaching us.

Well, this is kind of random, isn't it? I wish I was more like Doulos of Christ - so articulate in his faith, and thought-provoking - but instead I'll content myself with the thought that people need an "easy read" occasionally, too.

If you're a woman, check out the Jan Silvious book I just finished: "Getting Beyond the Myths". I love this book. It's straightforward. It's practical. It's scriptural. When I found it in the bookcase a few days ago, I thought "I should share this with Danger Haley". Then I started skimming through and realized I'd never finished it. So I did. God may want me to share it with Haley later, but for now he put it back in my hands because I needed to read it to the end.

(Transferred from Xanga)