What I gained from losing a car

Before you read any further, I have two disclaimers:

  1. Owning a car is a privilege. I appreciate that what I’m sharing here is a first-world problem.
  2. Owning a second car is an even bigger privilege. I’m grateful for God’s provision for us in both our vehicles.

For 22 years, my husband and I have owned and driven the same car. (Yes, you read that right: 22 years. Toyota, if you’re wondering.) We bought it just after we married and it’s been a daily driver for one of us ever since.

Until two weeks ago.

She up and quit on us when we took her in for an oil change. Our trustworthy mechanic came out of the garage like a surgeon with bad news. He didn’t even want us to drive her home because the risk to the engine was too great. (We did, but the car has been garaged ever since. It can be repaired, but the expense is high–she needs a heart transplant.)

So, for the last two weeks, we’ve been a one-car family. And it’s been surprisingly… well, wonderful.  Read More

Posted in Faith, Marriage, Redemption and tagged ,

In my hand

They were so little.

I watched my daughters, mere toddlers, playing near each other in the family room on the carpet, each with a toy of her choosing.

My youngest asked my eldest for the bauble she was currently enjoying. This was an unwelcome request, so eldest daughter searched the sprawl of toys in orbit around her. She selected one and handed it ever so sweetly to her younger sister. One might expect me to have been proud at that moment, delighting in the so-called sharing that had just taken place.

But I wasn’t.  Read More

Posted in Faith, Giving, Gratitude, Parenting, Sacrifice and tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Giving…With Just Cause

Should we base our tithe on our pre-tax or post-tax income?  This debate occurs somewhat frequently in circles when the topic of tithing arises.  I’ve asked the question, too.

Frankly, I’ve decided it’s beside the point.  I find it to be a flimsy veil behind which hands are clenched tightly around dollars and ‘stuff.’  What, then, will liberate treasure from our grubby little mitts?

Commitment and Sacrifice
With commitment comes a loss of freedom.  Committing to give in the form of dollars or hours implicitly requires denial of self in another area, if for no other reason than we lack infinite resources.

Sacrifice, by definition, isn’t sacrifice unless it costs something. When we give to a charitable organization, including churches, we commonly deduct it on our Federal taxes, rendering our sacrifice less costly to us.   Read More

Posted in Faith, Giving, Justice, Sacrifice, Sanctification and tagged , ,