Sustain A Future

I have set up our family budget for the year and I am happy about the increase that will come through out the year.  In the past, I have done my best to create a budget and stay on budget. If you haven't been taught how to budget; you just think, "well, I need to have enough money in my account to pay the bills and whatever is left over, I can spend it."  Not exactly.  It has really been these last couple of years that I had to gain another level of understanding for budgeting.  When I first started to take things more serious, the Lord had admonished me that; I was not grateful for the work that my husband does and in the conditions that he has to work in and I was not being a good steward over the money he was making.  Working 6 days a week no matter what the weather conditions are; hot or cold, my husband has to work ... physically.  I didn't agree with the fact that I was not grateful.  I felt like I was grateful; I keep our home clean, I restock when needed, etc.  But then the Lord reminded me that; whenever my husband and I would have discussions about our finances; I never hesitated to let him know that I also had a job and provided an income.  Oh, I was quick to stake my claim!  My husband supplies the main income for our family; it is his salary that keeps our home operating.  But, because I can be prideful; I was not acknowledging the true facts.  You see, if I was grateful like I said I was; I wouldn't convince myself that the money that was left over was free game and now I can go and play.  I needed to realize the work, time an effort that was being put in to bringing in these finances.  I told you before, I am a shopper; and I will find reasons to solidify my shopping.  Because my husband always left me to handle the finances, I would try to blame him for the budget getting off track; telling him, "well, if you helped me, or if you did the budget, this wouldn't happen." For years we circled this track of arguing.  I felt like my husband just left me out there. And don't let us hit a hardship; I would really start tripping; becoming emotional, not giving our budget the full attention that it needed, or waiting to the last minute to clear things up.  Oh, I was a mess!!!  Then, in a marital counseling session with our pastors; I learned that, the individual who was good at doing a certain task, should be the one to handle that department.  Seems pretty simple, right? Well, it wasn't. I struggled with rejection, so when my husband would leave me to do the budget, I felt like he didn't care. Even though, he would ask, how everything was going with the budget.  It wasn't good enough; I wanted him to do it with me.  My husband is good with problem-solving and critical thinking. But, he's a simple guy, just tell me what you need and he's good.  I respect that ... now! Because, I NOW understand, if budgeting isn't his thing, just like gardening isn't mine, why put someone in a situation that's set up for failure.  I'm telling you, I use to be a mess!

Going back to budgeting.  Because I have chosen to surrender to the Lord, I am learning that change happens in every area of your life.  Budgeting is more than paying bills; it's about positioning yourself financially to be able to invest and sustain a future.  After you have budgeted for the month, there should be a surplus.  That surplus can be used for many different things; repairs, needed clothing, or family entertainment.  And there is nothing wrong with that. But, when you become loose with it, your not being a good steward over it, your now out of order. Budgeting requires balance.  If there is no balance, you have now blown your budget. 

I have to get to a place and STAY THERE, that; when I have paid our bills for the month and no additional expenses have occurred, rather than, find ways to spend the extra money (because I don't have to); I need to be grateful and sustain a future.  A future doesn't always mean, years from now.  It can be our future summer vacation, our future home project, or our future investment of college, etc.  But, if it's not available; because, I refused to have self-control and blow our money; what does that say about me as a woman, mother, and wife, who has the responsibility of maintaining our family budget. 

I am not getting any younger, and my family is growing; it's time to set aside my childish ways of thinking and doing things, and get on board.  Budgeting is not about me feeding my desires to shop (even if I am a smart-savvy shopper), it's about, helping our family to grow financially and sustain a future.  The Lord had to help me see how I was being ungrateful and get me to the place of being grateful and a good steward over the things he has given us. 

Remember, surrender all...
Tynisha