I really loathe money.  Aren’t you proud of me for not saying the word “hate?”  I always discourage the kids from using that word, so I am working on it also.

I really loath money.  I loathe that in today’s day one has to be up to their eyeballs in debt, or have a two-income family to have money for extras.  Let me say right here and now that the Lord has ALWAYS provided EVERY NEED we have ever had.  Sometime I’ll tell you the story about how my husband was unemployed for over a year, yes a whole YEAR!  And not one of our bills was even late.  That’s how good our God is!

I have been invited to “maybe” go to Africa a year from now.  I am excited and scared beyond belief!  I think a trip there would certainly open my eyes to the reality that faces these people every day and here I am complaining about “extras!”  Yes, it would be good to focus on the blessings I have instead of material things that I don’t have.    I will choose to focus on my blessings!  You know, the things money CAN’T buy.

I think this comes from the occasional sin “envy” that creeps into my life from time to time…where it seems that everyone I know is able to do the things I so wish to.  Nothing extravagant mind you…I don’t want diamonds or jewelry.  I don’t want a new car (well, that’d be nice but not high on the list).  What do I want you ask?  Well…I would want a very big house, it doesn’t have to have fancy things in it or marble counter tops or anything like that.  Just big!  Sort of Like they used to build houses a hundred years ago, with 14 ft. ceilings, and spiral staircases, with a separate room for dining and a very large kitchen.  It has always been a dream to have my husband and his father to build us a house using plans from a hundred-year-old house.  Sadly, his father has had some health issues that prevent that, so I changed my dream to my husband and son building it.  I guess I have some time because my son is only 7!

I think from time to time that it would be a good idea to get a part-time job.  Something I can do in the evenings…I used to do medical transcription.  I did try that once.  Only then I was homeschooling a 3^rd grader and had two wee-ones at home.  You know what happened?  By November, my 3^rd grader ended up in public school for the rest of the year.  Now some good things did come from that.  1) She asked to come back and be homeschooled.  2) I realized that homeschooling three kids IS a full time job.  Now I don’t get paid in dollars.  But the rewards are far more reaching than any dollar could go.

My rewards are that I know my children are safe.  I KNOW that they aren’t learning things that I wouldn’t want them to (swearing, dressing trendy (in inappropriate ways), pier pressure for sex or drugs). And I am able to nurture them to grow in the Lord.  To be so strong in their faith that they KNOW He is the only way!  That they know WHY they believe what they believe.  That their faith would be unshakable!   Also, that my 13 yo daughter actually has a relationship with her six years’ younger siblings.

When I look at things that way, suddenly that “extra money” doesn’t seem quite so important.  I say all this to encourage some out there who might be struggling with the same issues, the Lord will provide it for us!  Sadly I have seen this again and again and still I sometimes forget.  So friend, don’t forget.  Know that He is good all the time and will provide every need for your family also!  The truth is this:  If it is truly important then the Lord will provide it!

Christina ~

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