Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin." Exodus 20:20
We've made it through the first week of living simply, and it hasn't been without challenges. Frankly, it's felt like a whole week of no, no, and more no. Conversations in our house have gone something like this:
"You can't buy that."
"Well, why not?"
"Because it would be buying something new. It isn't a necessity."
The thing is, it isn't that we really think we have to buy something, it's that we can't buy it. Our hands our tied. It's human nature when told not to do something, that something becomes the very thing we want to do. We want to be bad and break the rules, even when we know that the rules are there to protect us.
Kevin and I know that how we're choosing to live over the next year will become more second nature over time. We know that in the end, we'll be more focused on what is truly important. Right now, though, it's like a huge piece of cake staring down a woman eight days into a diet. It's so hard to resist.
Kevin and I have different shopping personalities, too. I'm likely to buy something on sale. Truthfully, I'll buy 10 of them. Because they are on sale. Well, we don't need 10, but I think we do. Just because they are on sale. And, I have a coupon. And, we'll use it eventually. And,....
Kevin is more of an impulse buyer. He'll see something completely random and think it's something we can use. Maybe we already have something for the same purpose. But, maybe this will be better. And, maybe the cats need a new toy. And, maybe this will be helpful in the yard or kitchen or insert various room in the house here. Maybe.....
We both have our justifications for buying things that we probably don't need. Now we both have to stop and ask different questions before we bring something home from a store. Is this a necessity? Can we survive without having this? Is this an item that needs to be replenished? How much do I actually need?
The rules have been laid out. The boundaries have been set. Can we stop viewing them as limitations and see the possibilities within?
We've made it through the first week of living simply, and it hasn't been without challenges. Frankly, it's felt like a whole week of no, no, and more no. Conversations in our house have gone something like this:
"You can't buy that."
"Well, why not?"
"Because it would be buying something new. It isn't a necessity."
The thing is, it isn't that we really think we have to buy something, it's that we can't buy it. Our hands our tied. It's human nature when told not to do something, that something becomes the very thing we want to do. We want to be bad and break the rules, even when we know that the rules are there to protect us.
Kevin and I know that how we're choosing to live over the next year will become more second nature over time. We know that in the end, we'll be more focused on what is truly important. Right now, though, it's like a huge piece of cake staring down a woman eight days into a diet. It's so hard to resist.
Kevin and I have different shopping personalities, too. I'm likely to buy something on sale. Truthfully, I'll buy 10 of them. Because they are on sale. Well, we don't need 10, but I think we do. Just because they are on sale. And, I have a coupon. And, we'll use it eventually. And,....
Kevin is more of an impulse buyer. He'll see something completely random and think it's something we can use. Maybe we already have something for the same purpose. But, maybe this will be better. And, maybe the cats need a new toy. And, maybe this will be helpful in the yard or kitchen or insert various room in the house here. Maybe.....
We both have our justifications for buying things that we probably don't need. Now we both have to stop and ask different questions before we bring something home from a store. Is this a necessity? Can we survive without having this? Is this an item that needs to be replenished? How much do I actually need?
The rules have been laid out. The boundaries have been set. Can we stop viewing them as limitations and see the possibilities within?