“We all need new shoes” I tell my husband…correction. I want my kids to have a pair of new shoes for school. Oh the whole want verses need argument that I have over and over in my head.
Do the kids get everything they want? Nope.
Do I get everything I want in life? Nope.
Are we hurting for the things we need? Nope.
Do we have excess in luxuries? Yes.
Does realizing how blessed we are count for something? Maybe
Balancing the want with the need is something I struggle with all the time. I have learned over the past few years how very little in the way of “items” one needs to survive on this earth. I have cut back on frivolous spending and ask myself “do I really need this ______?”. If I keep going back to it time and again then I must either need it or WANT it really, really badly.
I tell my groups I speak to that even something as small as a new pair of shoes can change your whole outlook – not only just for the “fashion” but also your confidence and desire to “get up and go”. Around here new shoes for school are just part of the process of getting excited about school and feeling confident that first day.
So we ended up with new shoes for the kids but I decided to put my new shoes back on the shelf to be purchased “at a later date” – teaching my kids and myself a bit about the waiting game. To reinforce the “waiting” I also told the kids they can’t wear their shoes until school starts…wow mean mom eh?
So they anxiously wait to put on those new shoes and carry their new backpacks with colorful school supplies.
Bottom line is I LOVE a new pair of shoes for what it brings to your life. Keeping the new shoes to special occasions is the hard part but I am working on it!
Posted on Wednesday, 28th July 2010 by Catherine
