A 'Can-Do' Attitude

This is the season for New Year’s resolutions.   We want to start out the New Year on the “right foot,” taking care to improve ourselves and our habits.  For many people this means starting with two of the top ten resolutions made each year - getting out of debt and saving money.

We also tend to be facing a number of money crunches at this time of year:  Why does the car always seem to need a major repair in December or January?  How did we end up with so much on the credit card when we vowed to have a “simpler” Christmas?  When can we stop worrying about the heating bill?   Seriously, you want me to “Think Greater” about generosity? 

Yes that seems counter-intuitive, but generosity breeds a positive, “can-do” attitude in us.  It’s good to say thank you, even in tough times.   Consider making the first payment from your paycheck a “thank you” gift for the many blessings you’ve received.   And then saving an equal amount in an emergency savings account you can use when you truly need to overspend your regular budget for medical needs, car repairs, house repairs or emergency family travel.

Some folks find that giving 5% of their income to the church and saving another 5% each week or month in an emergency fund can be a helpful spiritual tool as they take responsibility for their finances.

--WI Ann Conf

Lessons Learned from Children!

Growing in Generosity with Children

Eleven year old Hallie sat quietly while the other children in her Sunday School class were talking about their allowances, particularly how low their allowances were in the face of all their expenses.   When asked if she thought her allowance was big enough she replied, “Of course, why wouldn’t it be?”  When asked how much it was, she replied, “Ten dollars a week.”

Even the children who received less than that per week didn’t understand how Hallie could think that was enough.

“It’s enough,” she replied stubbornly.  “I give one dollar a week to the church, and put three dollars a week into savings.  That leaves six dollars a week to do WHATEVER I want with.  As long as I don’t want anything that costs more than six dollars, it’s enough.”

--Shared by Rev. Heather Brewer, 

Pastor of the Bloomer and New Auburn UMC’s

God Is Still In Control!

Miss Lladale Carey

Web Content Producer

www.umcgiving.org

lcarey@umcom.org