Focusing on the Blessings at Home

During tough financial times, we have to invent ways to make our money last. We also have to be more creative with finding happiness.

I remember some struggles we had growing up. There were times when we didn't have much food. My sister and I would beg our Mother to buy a pizza from our favorite restaurant. She couldn't afford it, but told us if we found some change and came up with enough, she would go buy the pizza. My sister and I would get so excited and race into our rooms to find every dime we could. We would roll coins, hand over any dollar bills we had, and then somehow, there was enough. Just this simple treat, of an occasional pizza, gave us happiness.

One year, Mom had to do back- to- school shopping for us. My sister had spent the entire summer babysitting. She managed to save a few hundred dollars. I remember getting all our clothes and being at the check out line. Mom didn't have enough money. My sister (God bless her!) handed over her savings to help my mother buy our clothes.

Yesterday, I noticed we were almost out of shampoo. Can you imagine not even having one extra dollar to buy basic necessities? Well, I just prayed about it. Somehow God would provide. Before the day was over, Amy (14) walked into the living room with a new bottle of shampoo. I was shocked. She told me Nana had bought it, didn't like the scent and gave it to us. What a blessing!

This morning, I scraped up every last dollar I could find to put some gas in my car. I am completely broke (smiles), but have all I need. Tomorrow is another payday and it will all go to bills. (Not debt - we have no debt other than a small home mortgage. These are basic bills like insurance, heat and our mortgage.) But we will rejoice in the daily blessings God is kind enough to bestow on us.

Right now I am comforting myself with two passages from Scripture:

1. Deuteronomy 15:11 "For the poor shall never cease out of the land..." (Why does this comfort me? Because it makes me entirely dependent on God alone to take care of me. It makes me trust him that much more, than if I had plenty of money.)

2. Psalm 37:25 "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." (God has always provided for us. All our needs are met. We are okay!)


I have been praying for ways to replace our lost income. Amy (14) and I have been discussing it quite a bit. I will let you know when a solution has been found. In the meantime, I am going to make pancakes for lunch with hot tea. We will have a peaceful day with lots of smiles and laughter.

Hope you all have a wonderful day! Everything will get better!

Blessings
Mrs. White