The title above, or something like it, was used as a slogan for a church fundraiser some years ago. The idea was that in order to give, we may have to sacrifice something... there just isn't enough in your wallet to keep giving. I think most of us can relate to this.
Hannah came home a few weeks ago really longing to take a pottery class. As usual, there was no money for this added expense. We've been limiting the kids activities because of a tight budget and I really get tired of it. Myles wanted to do gymnastics but we said no. We've skipped 2yrs of swim lessons. Last year we signed Myles up for tennis lessons (which are actually very reasonably priced), so when Hannah came home wanting to do pottery, I was tired of saying no. Myles had something special to do, and I wanted Hannah to have the same luxury.
So, with this came a monthly bill of course. I realized that it was wrong of me to say "we can't afford this," because, really, in someway, we probably could. I just had to get my head wrapped around how. Then the slogan came back to my mind, and I thought "there must be something I can sacrifice each month in order to allow Hannah to take this class..." I was probably thinking about all this while making coffee one morning because the thing I chose to give up was coffee!
We only drink instant coffee here as filtered coffee is far more expensive. But, even though instant is cheaper, it's still a luxury, and one we could afford to live without. The total cost of coffee each month was about the same as the pottery class.
It's funny how coffee becomes so much a part of our lives. It wasn't a caffeine addiction that affected me because I'm super-sensitive to caffeine anyway, and have a mix of regular and decaf each morning. Or HAD anyway... ;) Each morning there was just something missing. Tea wasn't cutting it either, as far as filling in the void. I enjoy tea very much, but it just wasn't working in my morning routine. I really felt lost, sort of like I didn't know what to do with myself when I got out of bed each day. I'd walk to the kitchen, then just stare at the kettle, turn around and go back to my room- empty handed.
The small sacrifice has been totally worth it as Hannah really enjoys her class each Wednesday afternoon. Today I asked her, "what did you do in class today?" She replied, very matter of factly, "I painted myself." I'd forgotten that last week they'd made "themselves" out of pottery! (oops!)
Yesterday Sheldon and I were given some extra moola to buy groceries. What a HUGE blessing it was in many, many ways, for many, many reasons... this morning I went to the grocery store and was very careful with what I bought. I took items off the shelf, and then put them back- "we don't need that." I have to confess, though, when I got to the coffee aisle I very hesitantly put our favorite coffees in to the cart. There are always so many needs, so many other things to spend money on. I think its that way if you have a little or a lot. So I can always badger myself over splurging out on things like coffee... but sometimes with sacrifice comes giving... we gave to Hannah, then someone else gave to us. We sacrificed (although it was something very minor) for her, and someone else sacrificed for us (by sending us THEIR money, which THEY could have used on a MILLION other things...).
I'm so looking forward to tomorrow morning, getting Sheldon, and together peeling off the layer of protective-keep-in-the-freshness-seal and sniffing in the first, and best, whiff of coffee. God is good and I'm so grateful that He looks after us the way that He does.
Until next time...
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