I do not shop as much as I used to, because while it can be fun to look, it is not fun anymore to buy things that I don't need. I still enjoy looking at Carter's for clothes for Lincoln, but I rarely buy because he doesn't need any more clothes. Let's just say it's easier for me to stop this compulsion than it is for my sweet mom, and I've had to reign her in, too. While we're on this subject, let me give you another example. We are fortunate to be due with another baby boy this coming January, the same month that Lincoln turns two. See this email exchange between Mom and me that occurred shortly after we found out that our second child is a boy.
Anna,
We are so excited about Baby Boy Rubin! We went to Peebles to buy him an outfit but did not see anything we liked. We will get some stuff (won't go overboard, you can give us some suggestions this weekend) when we go to Blowing Rock at the end of the month. Love you, Mom
Mom,I am actually having a boy in January which is actually what I already had....therefore any more clothes would probably be considered overboard :) I feel like we went overboard with Lincoln's clothes the first year, so we really don't need anything. The only thing would be a little brother or big brother outfit. Love you, AnnaAnna,Great idea. I will try to find Link a big brother outfit and I will buy Baby Boy Rubin #2 just one. He can't wear all hand me downs :) Love you, Mom
The next time I talked to Mom, I lovingly told her that Baby Rubin #2 could indeed wear hand-me-downs the first year of his life. In fact, I'm pretty sure he's not going to care or even know the difference! I know as our boys grow, they will develop different interests and probably not always be the same size during the same season. But for the first year of his life, Baby Rubin #2 will be just as content in big brother's clothes as in new ones. I adore my parents, and I know they only want to buy my children clothes because of their overwhelming love for them. So it's hard to say no. But sometimes enough is simply enough.
Another example- Until a week ago, we had 3 crib sheets, which was plenty seeing as how I do laundry a couple of times a week and we only have one child. But in thinking about the new baby, I have decided it's reasonable to have 4 crib sheets so we have a back-up for each child. This Saturday I found an organic crib sheet with trucks, buses, bikes, and cars on it, and I was excited to buy it for Lincoln because he LOVES those things right now. I actually just put it on his mattress today and he grinned and pointed and laughed. It was awesome! I felt OK buying that crib sheet because I knew he would love it AND I felt we would need another sheet. The key point being the latter half of that sentence- we would need another sheet. Quite frankly, I used to buy things because they were cute even if I didn't really need them, but now I am really trying to make sure both of those qualities are true so that I don't regret my purchases.
Another super fun thing for me in planning for Baby #2 is buying a hand-me-down crib from a sweet friend in our Garage Sale for Orphans. I got a nicer-than-I-would've-paid-for crib at half the price that I paid for Lincoln's IKEA crib, and it's special for 2 reasons. Number one- It's from a sweet friend. Number two- My purchase contributed to the unbelievable amount of money we made from people's unwanted items. Read this update below from my friend Jennifer, who worked tirelessly getting this sale organized!
Guess where the idea of Garage Sale for Orphans came from? You guessed it! Jen Hatmaker introduced us to an organization called Help One Now, who came up with this concept, in her 7 Bible study that we did this summer. And Jennifer Craven took it and ran with it. She solicited items from our group and other Bible study classes, put up signs, collected items, bought us Chic-fil-a breakfast, the list goes on...But we raised $1,600 from UNWANTED things that went to people who wanted them! You can learn more about the whole concept of Garage Sale for Orphans by clicking here.I want to thank everyone who donated or contributed time to the Garage Sale for Orphans. I sent a check today for just over $1600. It's going to a place called Ferrier Village in Haiti, which is a community of housing for orphaned teens providing them with not only a home, but an adult mentor. Also, the money uses local materials and labor as an additional benefit to the local economy. Thanks again!Jennifer
One last baby note: I remember when my friend Settle was talking about getting her nursery ready. She said something to the effect that all the decorating and pretty things we buy for the nursery are really for the parents, not the babies, because they won't even know the difference. I had never thought about that, but it's true. So much of what we think we are doing for others is actually for ourselves.
Ok, I'm beginning to see a pattern because most of my other examples also have to do with babies, but that's OK :) They're pretty much my life right now! Here's another example. When I was pregnant with Lincoln and during the first few months of his life, I seriously considered getting a mini-van. Why, you might ask? Let me tell you all my reasons.
1) It would have more room, especially when we add another child to the mix.
2) My driveway is narrow, and that sliding door would really come in handy. I smile at this one because if I only knew then what I know now...(we have since sold our house to downsize and the narrow driveway is no longer an issue!)
3) My car might be kind of cramped with a big car seat.
4) If I'm going to buy one eventually, why not buy one now and enjoy it?
5) My car is ten years old and has over 100,000 miles on it. It's time, right?
Can you see how good I am at rationalizing? We even rented one for a weekend to go on a long trip once Lincoln was born to try it out. But in the end, we decided against it. For one, I was surprised to see how expensive minivans are, and no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't justify that kind of expense. Even though I had labored over this decision, it was not extremely difficult in the end because I LOVE MY 2001 HONDA ACCORD with leather seats, tape player, and 6-disc CD changer, even if it does have 125,000 miles on it. I think I even love it more than I'd love a minivan. By some standards, it's an old car, but by my standards she's a jewel with a lot more life in her.
Another example: We are currently living in an 1,800 square foot, 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath house while our permanent house is being renovated. My life is no harder or worse living here than it was in my 2,450 square foot, 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath house. No, Lincoln doesn't have a playroom here, but he plays in his room, and it's fine :) No, we don't have a dedicated office, but I grade papers and type in the extra bedroom. No, we don't have 3 places to eat meals, we have 2, but it's enough. Even if we're still here when Baby #2 comes, it is enough.
In April, I went to hear Beth Moore at a Living Proof Live event and Samaritan's Purse had a life-size "model home" that you may find in a country in Africa. I don't remember exactly which country, but what I do remember was that everything was in the same room. The kitchen, the sleeping area, the living area, all in a room the size of my living room. The image of that sparsely furnished "model home" has stayed with me. It has not stayed with me because it depressed me, because it didn't. It opened my eyes. I have more than I need. Excess clutters and complicates. Enough doesn't. Lord, help me live and breathe enough.
In April, I went to hear Beth Moore at a Living Proof Live event and Samaritan's Purse had a life-size "model home" that you may find in a country in Africa. I don't remember exactly which country, but what I do remember was that everything was in the same room. The kitchen, the sleeping area, the living area, all in a room the size of my living room. The image of that sparsely furnished "model home" has stayed with me. It has not stayed with me because it depressed me, because it didn't. It opened my eyes. I have more than I need. Excess clutters and complicates. Enough doesn't. Lord, help me live and breathe enough.
I'm not saying that you need to do exactly what I do. We are different people in different situations. We have different strengths and different weaknesses. My biggest weakness is eating out. I have tried to cut back, but I don't want to give it up completely. When my beloved car dies, I will probably buy a new one with leather seats instead of a used one because that's just how I roll. I buy new, I buy nice, but I keep it for the long haul. I can tell you that I am proud to say that I no longer buy Bumble and Bumble shampoo and conditioner at $25 a bottle because Suave and Loreal are enough. And enough is what I want.
What I am saying is that maybe now is the time to examine your life and think about where you're spending your money. What really matters to you and what doesn't? What's going to matter in the end and what won't? Try looking at things for what they really are: things. Not people, not needs, just things we want and don't often need.
Try thinking differently. Try thinking about what you'd buy if you actually had to choose because you didn't have the luxury to buy most/all of the things you want. There are lots of people in this world who don't have the choice. If you do, whether you believe it or not, you are a "have" in a world filled with "have nots" whose children's lives can be permanently, positively changed with $30 a month or where a few hundred dollars for a well can provide access to clean water that could literally save hundreds of lives. That matters. A new minivan for me or new clothes for Baby #2 or new _________ for you doesn't.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. -Matthew 6:19-21I think financing a well in another country is storing up treasure in heaven. I think tutoring a student at Ashley Elementary once a week for an hour is storing up treasure in heaven. I think packing a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child is storing up treasure in heaven.
We don't always get to see the results of our giving, especially when it's halfway around the world. But one of the things I look forward to most about heaven is seeing how one person's generosity truly changed the lives of people in ways they never knew about on this earth.
What kind of treasure are you storing up?
