Sacred Perspective

When you stop to think about it; there are things in life that just need a sacred perspective to change our interpretation of the day.
The Mr. and I have almost doubled our income in the last few years. Yet I often look around and think, “where’s the money going?” It doesn’t feel like we’re living twice as easily. This is the flesh perspective. It’s the nature of man interpreting life.
We’ve been gonna-get-a-new-stove for a few months now. It seems that just when we have about enough money put back something happens and there goes the stove. Drains in the basement backed up; $$. Senior pictures; $$. Winter retreat ski trip for Mac; $$. Mac's ongoing health issues;$$. The Mr. has creeping crud and goes to the docotr; $$. Jay's food for his Celiac diet; $$. Some lotsa $$ and some just a little more than budgeted $$ but it feels like our bank account is hemorrhaging.
Friday afternoon as I’m leaving work Mac calls my cell phone to tell me his steering wheel is “locked.” So the Mr. and I each head toward the school to figure out what’s up. Ends up with a tow bill and a repair bill in the hundreds.
Another week without the new stove.
It’s frustrating, I’ll be honest. I feel like we should be past this approach to finances. Makes me feel aggravated and wondering where the money is going.
Then I stopped to think about it.
Mac’s truck needs repair for one major reason. Mac has a truck.
A few weeks back Jay’s car needed repair for the same reason; he has a car.
And the Mr. has a new Focus and in a few months I’m turning in my Expedition for a new vehicle.
We have four cars.
That is the sacred perspective. We have four cars. We have so much. That’s where the money is; into those four cars and ski trips and college educations and senior pictures and, and, and...
Some of the money is wasted and some invested wisely.
The point is; we have car repair bills because we have four cars.
My flesh says I am burdened. The sacred perspective says that I am blessed.
When the drains in the basement back up it’s because I have a home.
When my son needs a blank check for books it’s because he’s going to the University of Michigan.
When my alarm clocks rings at 4:30 it’s because I have a job.
When my son needs money for the ski trip it’s because he’s healthy and strong and whole and he can ski.
Jay's food, Mac's doctor's visits, Dean's creeping crud because I have a husband and two sons and an intact family.
And when Mac’s truck needs to be towed it’s because he has a truck.
And when I learn to thank God that he has a truck to be repaired and I have the money to do it; I’ll be a little closer to a sacred perspective.

Psalm 84:2-4
My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home ,and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house ;they are ever praising you. Selah