So the other day, my sister sent me a picture of a beautiful, big giant boat. She and my brother-in-law are the proud new parents of this fabulous craft. My boss and I huddled over my phone and zoomed in on different parts of the boat and discussed it at great length with excitement and speculation on the make, size, model, etc.
Then it happened. I was showing off the new member of my family (the boat) to a co-worker, and he said “Doesn’t it upset you that your brother and sister can flaunt nice things like that and you’re driving around in a car with duct tape on it and living in a tiny apartment?” I thought he was joking, but he was dead serious. I started thinking to myself that it was a real slam on me and my car and my home. I realized later he didn’t mean it that way, but that is truly how some people feel. They feel real bitterness towards others who have worked their butts off and managed their money. I once had a friend who was one of those people. I remember how excited I was that I was finally getting a new bed. I was telling her about it and she was told me she was so happy that I was able to buy something so nice, and proceeded to tearfully tell me how her cable was turned off, she had no gas in her car, and detailed how unfair her life was. I felt an inch tall. I felt like the biggest, most ungrateful idiot for buying a new bed even though I could hardly move in the morning because my mattress was so old.
The thought to be angry or jealous of my sister and brother-in-law never occurred to me until the coworker said that, and I have to admit, for a nanosecond I almost fell for it. I’ve fallen on hard times, and I’ve been stuck in those hard times for a while now. Yeah, I envy those who have nicer stuff, more money, etc. but I also admire them. No one owes me a THING. I wouldn’t trade any of my learning experiences or my life for nicer stuff. I am solely responsible for my “financial destiny”. I’m still making barely enough to support myself even with the new job, but there’s things I could cut back on and haven’t. There’s things we could do with out but don’t. And things happen beyond your control, things have happened to me that were beyond my control…but if you don’t pick yourself up and dust yourself off and waste all your time being bitter at those who can have bigger and better, you are in for one heck of a miserable life.
I got a higher paying job…just in time to find out a surgery I had wasn’t covered by insurance and I had to pay for it. I’m getting a big tax refund. It should be here any day…and my car window broke and the mechanic found a problem with my axle. I also got a free month of rent this month for renewing my lease for another year. The tax laws changed, I can’t take the advanced earned income credit on my paycheck anymore, cutting my take home pay by $140 a month. But, I got a raise at the stable.
Those are just a few examples. God works in mysterious ways and makes sure have what I need. My mom helps me immensely. As for my sister and brother-in-law and their new boat…I’m happy for them and happy for the excitement they are feeling and I truly hope no one tries to crap on their parade. And in looking at the pictures, I’ve already picked out the seat for me and my frosty beverage.
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