I remember when I was a kid, when I said I wanted something or to do something and my parents told me no, I usually complained. My complaints often started with, "but I want . . ." My parents had some words of wisdom for me in those situations, words that I wish I would have taken more to heart -- "Fix your wanter."
I cannot tell you how much sorrow and trouble and heartache I could have saved myself over the past many years if I had fixed my wanter years ago. And I am thinking about it today as I sit here trying to remind myself that no, I cannot go to lunch with my friends. I need to eat my frozen meal, as unappealing as it sounds. Because I may want to go get a delicious hamburger and french fries and chat with friends, but it's not wise for many reasons. So I just try to remind myself to fix my wanter. Which means I'll be eating at my desk.
4 comments:
I really like that. Is it okay if I use it?
Good choice, Jess. Hard, but good. I always tell my kids to fix their wanter and they get so mad at me. I find that my wanter for little things is fixed. But for the big things it is sometimes harder. Like I really want to find a way to take our family to DLand in the fall. I keep trying to think of ways we can swing it in the face of all these other financial obligations. Is it wrong? I keep asking the Lord to see what He will tell me!!!
I love that saying! I always respond to my children's material requests with, "Is that a want or a need?" and we go from there. Once determined it's a "want" it's followed with: "Save now, buy later".
Being disciplined is difficult, but being content is even harder. Good for you for knowing the benefits of both!
So why is buying a burger and fries and eating with friends a bad idea?
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