Odd title, don't you think? Well, it's where we are at as of yesterday. Let me explain. Hubby took his car in to be looked at - at a place we have taken our cars to for years because we felt they had always been honest with us and fair for the work they did on our cars. Hubby had noticed for awhile now that there have been drops of oil on the floor of the garage. When he came back home, he gave me the 'low-down'. I sat back in my chair and listened. Then I commented.... absolutely not. We are not going to do it. I refuse to put that much money into a vehicle that is not worth it. Hubby had already thought it through, he thought. We'd wait for the stimulus check we hope we will get, then he'd take the rest out of our meager savings to pay for it. Absolutely NOT.
This place - now I won't remember all that was pointed out, but it was like 4-5 valves to be replaced, and some other things to be done.... to a tune of $2300! And what really upset me? $1700 of that $2300 was labor! Now, I appreciate people learning this field of expertise and can determine what can be wrong with a vehicle and needs fixed. But, that figure set me off. I recalled that when vehicles I've had required that much work we got rid of them - and this 2005 will be gotten rid of too.
I recalled something my daughter had said about this place the other day.... they had taken their son's truck in for something to be done - now I don't know what it was, but something to do with rods that could be replaced with long or short rods. I have no idea what it is about. The son-in-law chose the short rods, in spite of being pushed to buy the long rods. This one person commented to him - "you make a lot of money, why don't you take better care of your son by getting the more expensive rod".... not exact at all, but similar words. He stuck with the short rods. The next day he went back with his brother who was in town and needed something done on his car. As they walked in, this 'person' looked at a co-worker across the room and commented 'well, here comes the frugal one' - which is entirely rude! And said right in front of the son-in-law and his brother!
I recalled also that my son has had issues with them before but I don't recall specifically what the issues were. I know I have personally been frustrated in the past at some things, but since I needed the vehicle worked on, let it go. But I have never heard rude things like that being said in front of me or to me.
I suggested to hubby he call the son-in-law and ask him if his mechanic friend could fix the car for less - much less - or to check around for an inexpensive car. Hubby figured out what he could pay. I stayed out of it since I don't pay the bills and I am going to make hubby figure it out. Perhaps it will keep him from buying other things. Immediately the son-in-law started looking online for vehicles and he and my daughter came over to take us out to look at them. We looked at around 4, I think, and they test-drove two of them at two different places. I think I know what hubby is going to do. There was a red one (and he knows I love red cars, although mine is blue) that he has decided mentally he wants. There were some minor things wrong with it, I think, but it had had only one owner, and I think it was like 31,000 miles on it? It was a 2018 - I can't remember now cause I totally stayed out of it, much to hubby chagrin. He wanted me to make the decision on a car for him and I refused to. I won't be driving it (and neither should he, but that's another topic for another time). We didn't stay out long and came back home without a decision made. I think we will be going back out this afternoon to look at a few more. Hubby would like nothing more than to get a much newer car. I just ask that it be smaller so that I will have more room in the garage. Told him he doesn't need a full-size car. Perhaps if he gets one tonight I will have something to share tomorrow.
Needless to say, we do not plan to go back to the company where we have gone to for years to get our car oil changes and repairs done for years. A competitor of theirs, Wilhelm, is just as good as they are - if not better. Oh - I forgot to mention, when hubby was waiting in the lobby for his car inspection to be completed, he overheard this one person saying to his co-worker.... "..... I talked .... into buying 4 new tires although he said he didn't need but one so now we are meeting our quota for the month." When did meeting quotas come before meeting the needs of the customer?
Later last night I suggested to hubby that since he is buying a newer vehicle and will have that payment every month, we cancel our anniversary vacation. He wasn't real thrilled with that idea, but agreed we could save quite a bit of money if we stayed home. We already had the hotel reserved up north (where we love to go) and the pet hotel reserved for Sheeba. I suggested that we go ahead and put Sheeba in the pet hotel for the weekend.... so that if we want to take a long drive somewhere and end up coming home late or staying overnight, we won't have to rush back to feed or take care of her. It could still be a vacation. I'm not sure I will take all the time off I would have, but if I take a Friday and a Monday that would seem like a long time. He agreed to cancel the hotel.
Sometimes we need to make the sacrifice for something better. As much as these vacation trips mean to hubby, he knows with him getting a newer vehicle that some things will need to be given up. I was surprised, tho, that he gave up the vacation so easily. He will have to get used to a car payment again. And yes, it will come out of the joint account and I'm not helping. I pay for my own car (and have only 4-5 payments left YAY!!).
Sacrifices. Sit back and think of a sacrifice you have made for something. Have you given up something to benefit your family? Have your determined something is not important enough to hang on to? What is it that you are willing to let go of for the benefit of others?
Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us by giving up His life to prepare the way for us. I'm sure He would have rather not die, but hang around more years. Remember how he prayed in the garden? "Father, not my will, but yours." and "....take this cup from me....". Those are not the words of someone who thought it was going to be fun. But the truth is, is was all about Him. He had free will and could have chosen another way to save us from ourselves. But He gave up His life - willingly, for you and for me. There is no greater sacrifice than to lay down your life for others. His life, for mine. His life, for yours. There is not greater sacrifice.
It cost Jesus his life to do what He did - for you and me. What are you willing to sacrifice for Him?
Blessings!
No comments:
Post a Comment