Instant Gratification {Day 27}

Living in a world of instant gratification has left its mark on society and human relationships. Sure we all know this and agree. Yet still we are on to the next and the next thing. Our brains on overload thinking about many things at once. Progress or distraction.

Today’s reflection is on delaying gratification. In other words self-denial. I know, I cringe to at the thought of disciplining myself as none of us like to be disciplined. The spiritual life is a life of self-discipline that spills over into every facet of our lives.

My story: It has been 19 years since I began the envelope process. We had 3 children and one on the way. My husband and I were bad with credit and debit cards. The allure of instant money sometimes got us in trouble.

My friend had been telling me about her envelope system, I thought; nothing I want to get into. I remember having physical reactions when she spoke about it. It made my stomach hurt. So I kept doing my own thing, not listening, thinking I could somehow by pass the hard work and just get to where I was going.

One day, my husband and I had to have that come to Jesus moment. You know the moment when hard decisions have to be made. We had to get a handle on our finances, we are the parents of four children for goodness sake, and we have to figure this out!!!

The envelope system, the most efficient and effective way of controlling our budget. The system is simple but is by far the hardest thing I ever had to do. I truly hated it. I can’t tell you how many times a few days before payday and our envelopes were empty.

That’s the system, you make a budget, you use cash only, you cannot dip into the checking account or savings to make it to the next pay, and once your cash is gone it’s gone till payday. Yep, I hated it.

It is truly a lesson in delaying gratification. Even writing this I am cringing inside with the memories of how those first months and years were.

Looking back I am glad we stuck it out. The blessings we received from being faithful to this practice has flowed to all aspects of our life.

Delay gratification. Hard concept in today’s world.

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