When I look back now I find it silly. I mean really, why would I covet the things that never really mattered? Why would I feel like I had to have something simply because it bore a tiny little tag with a symbol or name that hardly anyone could read to begin with? And most importantly, what was I doing to my children?
Growing up we didn’t have the best of the best, but my mother always tried to make sure we had our name brands, even if it meant working extra hours and shopping at thrift stores (which I wasn’t about to step foot in back in those days). I look back at it now and I wish I would have realized what I realize now. The names on the tags don’t matter and the time spent with my mother would have been so much better. Our parents work hard to provide for us, so why do we overlook and take advantage of that?
It wasn’t until I started having kids of my own that I realized my true obsession (yes, I’d call it that) over the tiny little tags and symbols on our clothing and belongings. I was always wanting what everyone else had. I could never just be happy. Back then, and by back then I admit that it was really only a few years ago, I had no clue. I thought I was providing for my children, but now I know what it truly means to provide for my children and give them what they NEED, not just what I thought they needed.
I want my kids to grow up to be strong independent and responsible young men. Was I setting them up to be materialistic, sensitive and obsessive? What was I thinking?
How did I realize what I was doing?
It wasn’t until the day I was given the opportunity to help someone else. Now, I have always been a giving person (I get that from my Momma and it’s how I was raised), but I probably wouldn’t have given you my Coach purse or Nike shoes. Today, if I saw that a family was in need and all I had on me was my Coach purse, I would gladly give it to them.
Everything we own is material. We can replace EVERY.SINGLE.THING. Family and friends, they are not material, they can not be replaced. Yeah, you can try to replace a friend with another friend, but it’s not truly replacing a PERSON. There is no greater joy in life than to see the smile on someone else’s face.
Do my boys have name brands? Sure. But, I’m a bargain shopper and I buy whatever it is that is on sale. I no longer obsess over the brand and I DO shop at thrift stores. I want my boys to know what is really important in life.
Take a minute and look at your life. What do you value and treasure? Are you more focused on the things that don’t really matter? We often take for granted what really matters and what is right in front of us.
I challenge you all to do something this week that will make someone’s day. Put a smile on a stranger (or friend or family member)’s face!
More to Come on Raising My 5 Sons…
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