Growing up I had no allowance so the only money I held in my hands came in an occasional birthday or Christmas card. I’d dig through the Sears catalog pretending I had to buy something on each page and by the time I’d gone through the good parts I always found something I just couldn’t live without.
I never had quite enough money for the toy or that watch on a neck chain with changeable outer coverings of different colors that would impress my friends, and look just right on me (in fact be more attractive on me than anyone else). But I could see I WOULD have enough after two more holidays so I saved and waited. The problem was by the time a year rolled around I had outgrown That Thing and I NEEDED something else.
Eventually I recognized I DID NOT DIE as a result of not having these wonderful things. I decided to continue saving and saving in case something of great immensity, and supreme importance and of magnificent NEEDFULNESS showed up. Then I’d be ready. Each year I still found things that caused an emotional giddiness and fear of death but it became entertaining to face my eminent demise and LIVE through it!
Within a year and a half into my marriage I added my savings to my husband’s and we bought our first house. I bought my house with my eight year old birthday money!
I have plenty of nice things now but my emotional giddiness comes from the things I learn in Sunday School. And did you know, with practice, you can get better at being happy?nancymauerman.com