Cars are tools not mirrors

I drive a 1996 station wagon. It seats 8, it gets 25 miles to the gallon, has 88,000 miles on it and I like it. To me it is a tool much like a hoe or a rake. I think a shiny red one would be pretty but my old one is perfectly useful and already paid for. It gets me from A to B. I personally don't even like to drive, so paying extra money to do something that I dislike is ridiculous. People feel sorry for me at times, I can see it in their eyes. I have even at times contemplated a new car purchase just to prevent the discomfort other people express about my less than new transportation. I personally am curious to see how many miles I can get out of it. I love experiments and am very much enjoying this one. When I was first married we had a car that cost $380 per month for 6 years by the time we paid the car off we had 3 kids and then had to buy a bigger car. It wasn't worth it. For 2 years we loved it and then it became a thing of stress and lost its luster. We paid it off a year early and still only got $3000 out of it.We ended up paying $30,000 for a car that we drove for 5 years. That is a $27,000 loss over 5 years or that is over $5000 per year posted as a loss. I could think of a bunch of different ways to spend that money if I was just going to throw it away anyway. Ballet class for the entire year, gymnastics for all of my daughters, a YMCA membership for the year that includes 2 date nights per month. Summer Camp for all 3 of my kids for 5 days so my husband and I can get away together and a week at the beach with the entire family which we could pay for with what was left of the $5000. Shiny car or shiny memories without a shiny credit card.

You are Worthy

Over the past 2 years I have been working and observing human nature Existing in a sort of autopilot work mode while expending the majority of my energy on understanding the psyche. What drives us, what encourages us and what debilitates us. It varies from person to person based on many factors including belief systems, economic standing, material goods, health, job security but intensely surrounding the state of our relationships. Do we see our worth? The answer for me is yes and no. We are fragile no matter how high we build the walls around us. An opinion carelessly stated can take that answer of yes to no or I am not sure in a matter of moments. Regardless of these negative factors: poor health, job loss, financial hardship, a few solid relationships that yield encouragement  and a consistent reminder that we are worthy of love can bring  more peace and comfort than any amount of prestige or financial gain could afford. Do you see your worth?

 Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. -Hebrews 10:25 ESV