of how far we have come. Financially, I mean. Not that we have a lot of money, by any means, or that we are totally financially stable. But with our move we have been able to finally breathe and not have to count how much is being spent when I go to a grocery or a store.
I realize a lot of people have lost their jobs during this pandemic and I feel for them. I know what it is like to not have any income coming in, or very little income. I know what it is like to have more outgo than income. We would be really struggling had I lost my job before we moved. But, I've also learned over our very lean years that there are some things we just don't need. And that God will provide all that we do.
I think I've mentioned before how one year at Christmas, things were so hard. I always managed to get my children and grandchildren a gift or two for Christmas, and provide a meal. Those are things that bring me much joy and doesn't require much but giving of myself. One year I remember totally breaking down in tears before Christmas because I didn't know what we were going to do. Come Christmas morning we found two bags of gifts for hubby and I. I remember I got a beautiful white sweater. I forget what hubby got. We also got a candle and a fragrance holder. It was strictly the thought. We never learned who gave it to us. It was left on our porch during the night. But I was touched by the generosity and thoughtfulness of others in our time of not struggle. It was just hubby and I, and people touched our lives.
I remember also, many, many years ago when I lived in Kirklin when my children were quite young. This had to be 1974 or 1975. Again, we were without much income. There was a lady in town whose name was Jackie, and she was the sister of my best friend, Roberta, aka Purple Pony on the CB. She would go 'dumpster diving' after the grocery stores dumped produce and gather it up, sort through it, and put it in baskets to deliver to people who had a need. She sometimes was able to get some meat too. We never let on we were in need of food. After all, it was during this time that I learned to create a lot of things from scratch and discovered my love of cooking. I learned to make homemade noodles during this time. Anyway, one year around Christmas time, we found a basket of food on our porch. We were so grateful we were finally a recipient. We had never requested anything because we felt others were worse off than we were. You will laugh now, but many weeks I only had $5 to spend for groceries. Lamb chops were cheap - we could get 2 for around $2 at the local grocery. We made do with what we could afford, and never thought anymore about it.
Back to the basket....my mind is wandering in memories this morning, I think.... inside this basket was a lot of vegetables, many soft and needed to be used right away, but still edible. But there was a whole uncut 'chicken' that we were excited to get because we had been out of meat. The next day I cut up the 'chicken' and cooked up that 'chicken' and fried it real crisp - just the way we liked it. (I never could fry chicken like my mama could, but that didn't mean that I didn't try) Well, the 'chicken' was VERY tough and although we ate as much as we could, we couldn't understand why it was so tough. It was a few days later we discovered it was not a 'chicken' after all..... it was a ROOSTER!! Who ever heard of cooking a rooster? I had never heard of anyone cooking a rooster before! We had a good laugh about that - and that was the only time we had received a basket.
What has brought all these thoughts up? A couple things, actually. But only one that I will share about because it simply amazes me. Now my mother never taught us girls how to manage income, to budget, to pay bills. I don't know how she did it, I really don't. Us girls were never taught how to survive in times of need. And that amazes me somewhat. Mother never shared difficult times. Things may have gotten lean, but we never knew it. I'm not so sure that is a good thing. Why? Because in our difficult times we sometimes don't know how to deal with it. My older sister, my younger sister, and I have discussed this frequently. None of us knew how to budget or save money. We were never taught. Now I'm not bragging or building myself up, I've learned to budget and save because I've had to. I've been through those lean times - several times in fact - and I know what it is like to do without so when I do have a little extra, I'm extra cautious in spending it.
Ok- getting to what I'm thinking about this morning. Even though I've managed to save a little bit, I don't go crazy buying things for Christmas. My family has gotten fairly large now and I managed to buy each a couple gifts, but the rest I do with salsa, breads, etc. They are made with love, and I think each one appreciates those gifts more than the shirt they end up with! (usually). I was talking with someone yesterday.... now I have come to realize more and more this past year that they are truly a shopaholic. I've heard the term before, and laughingly even gave it to myself at times. But I have always known where to draw the line on spending. I've never gone over what I felt I could comfortably spend.
Yesterday this person mentioned going shopping and spending $300 somewhere for gifts for family. Now mind you, this person is in very financial straits. WHY would you spend $300 on gifts when the money is not in the bank? They plan to take some things back today so that their account isn't overdrawn. I questioned this person when they mentioned it to me... I commented "you got to keep better track on what you are spending!!" Their comment back to me - and I quote... "Honey, I try to watch what I am spending but, we just don't make that much." HUH? Then why are you out shopping and spending what you don't have? UGH. I need to just mind my own business.
I know I didn't teach my children how to budget either. My middle child is fortunate, I believe he has a wife who DOES know how to budget and how to manage finances. It's hard to teach someone when you don't know how yourself. That's my excuse.
Good grief - my mind is really wandering around this morning, isn't it! I know I have a couple issues to deal with today. I ordered some things from JCPenneys and have received my shipment... but realized I was missing three specific items. I contacted them - and am waiting on their response to what they are going to do. I can't prove I didn't receive it. Can they prove they shipped it - or will they reship, trusting my honesty that I didn't receive them?
The other is an end table I ordered through Walmart last week. The notice I had received was that it would be delivered December 3rd. No biggie. It's a cheap one and I can get it anytime. Last night I scanned my emails to see that Fed Ex delivered it. Now at the time they said they delivered it - I was home - working on our court area, and I know nothing was delivered by Fed Ex. Not to my house anyway. I will need to contact Walmart and the company today to tell them it was NOT delivered here. They did ask we wait 24 hours... and 12:19pm will be 24 hours. I do not believe anyone took it. Fed Ex always delivers inside our gated area. Perhaps it was delivered to our neighbor, and we will check on that this morning, just to be sure. Considering it wasn't to be delivered until December 3rd....how in the world was it delivered November 22nd? Confuses me!
I am grateful to God that He has walked with us through our lean years and taught me a lot. He really has. I've learned how to cook from scratch - and enjoy doing it! I love being creative with food and trying new things. Not everything has come out good, but most have. God has been with us through good times and very lean times. And He has always met our need.
We don't need 'stuff' to be happy. I'm learning that a lot this year with having to get rid of so much 'stuff'. I already have a bag started to get rid of more 'stuff'. What do we need to be happy? It isn't money, although it does make things easier.
Family makes me happy. I don't care if I don't have a dime to my name. As long as I have my family, I am truly blessed and happy. What about you? What makes you happy? Having money to spend freely.... or time spent with a loved one? True, some people have both - good for them! But the majority of us do not. And that's ok.
God will always provide what we NEED. And we can share what we don't. It's not always about finances. Sometimes all we need is that hug, that phone call, that...... you can fill in the blank.
Do something special for someone today. It may be all they need today.
Blessings!
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