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An old Flintstone cartoon has Wilma and Betty rushing out the door yelling, “CHARGE.” I can imagine that some husbands see their wives in the same light these days. Christmas is coming and there must be gifts for everyone! Mom pours over the sale flyers while the kids remind her endlessly that they need this Ipod and that computer game and they’ll just die if she doesn’t buy the latest brand of jeans and on and on it goes. Dad’s eyes are flipping dollar bills just like Fred’s only it isn’t because he sees a windfall coming. It is because he sees one going! Why do we do it? I mean, why do we allow the merchants who shamelessly hawk their wares to force us into their mold, to tell us what we MUST spend for Christmas? Do we really give thought to what is happening around us and the consequences of our action or are we thoughtlessly going with the flow afraid that we will not meet someone’s expectations? Expectation can be a merciless taskmaster. It is better to not have expectations. If we don’t “expect” we will not be disappointed but we will be pleasantly surprised if and when something special does happen. Allowing others to force their expectations onto us is just as unwise. To allow such activity gives others control over our behavior and our purse but we are the ones who are responsible for the consequences. Why not have a family conference and discuss the what, why, and how of Christmas. Settling some issues before one plunges recklessly into debt will go a long way to bring some sanity back into the season. And I might add... settle some fierce arguments before they happen. No one desires to be a scrooge but wisdom suggests that it is wise to use the knowledge and common sense that God has given. Overspending results in extra stress, longer work hours after the holidays to pay the bills. It adds up to absent parents while the money is made to pay those bills. In the meantime the kids are left alone and/or with a babysitter and quality family time disappears. I’ve a strong feeling that the kids would rather have Mom and Dad’s attention than lots of “stuff”. The family meeting is a good place to explain what happens when you go in debt. You might ask the kids whether they would like to have “stuff” or your attention. The answer just might surprise you. Pr 22:7 says, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” Debt robs us of money that could be spent for necessary things. Interest paid becomes the slave driver that forces us to spend our energy to make others rich.
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