Monday, 20 April 2009
Every time he opens his mouth, wisdom rolls forth… Zen, maybe you remember how much we enjoyed learning in his Sunday School class when you lived here? He always had something thought provoking to say and to remember about how the Savior would have us live. Yesterday was no exception as President David Richards (formerly a stake pres., a missionary with his wife Maryl to the Lamanites a couple of years ago, a temple worker now) spoke about Provident Living in Sacrament meeting.
There are more kinds of addictions than drugs and pornography. Like food, sports, computer time, etc. that take us away from the things that matter most. He spoke of acting on the difference between wanting and needing “things” in our lives. Do we own things or do thy own us? If we go into debt for them; then we are in bondage. Even if we can afford the payments, can we afford the adddiction?
No child should leave our home without knowing how to balance a checkbook. They should have the experience of having a job, even if it is just a paper route, and know how to handle their own money.
Five actions to guide us : 1] pay tithing, 2] spend less than you earn, 3] learn to save, 4] honor financial obligations, and 5] teach your children by your example. “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without.” Bishop Sharp remarked that Pres. Richards “is wise beyond his years” . We chuckled, as Pres. Richards is in his 70’s .
New School Year, New Focus
8 years ago
2 comments:
Too bad I missed this one! There is so much truth in the idea that buying "stuff" is an addiction. When we first started the Dave Ramsey plan, it was really hard to restrain myself from buying extra goodies for the girls all the time or impulse buying the latest DVD or something else "because it's on sale". But I have learned to only buy what I need and what I've budgeted for. The freedom and sense of control with this kind of living is totally worth the sacrifice!
That is the gist of several talks from this recent General Conference, the addiction of consumer debt. I was feeling those talks, believe me!
There is no doubt I fell off the wagon last fall. And we were doing so well! But Zen and I have determined to get back on track, and live only on our checking account. We were only about a year off from being out of debt, but then I tripped at the finish line, so to speak. Sigh.
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