Gifts, To and From

I have had the most eye opening experience and just had to share it with my frugal brothers and sisters! But, with almost all of my stories, there is a back story. This past weekend I was reminded of the book I had read about a year or so ago: The Five Love Languages. I have struggled ever since to find out what my husband’s language is. Finally, after watching a program on PBS, I realized what it is. It’s gifts! OH YEA, I finally figured it out! Oh no, it’s the hardest one for me!


My husband shows love by giving with a generous spirit. He also receives it in this way. I, as you know, am one of the biggest tightwads around. Is this some sort of cruel joke that God has played on me? Ugh, I hate spending on frivolity. A utilitarian through and through, I can find 100 other ways to spend $20 than on some token that will just be tossed aside. Well, you know what happens when the Lord puts you in a place that like? He puts a big ole mirror right up in front of you so you can see what you really look like, and I looked selfish! I’ll admit to that. Now hang on, there is a point to this story so just stay with me. I love my husband more that I love the security that I feel when our budget is balanced. He needs to know that as well. I made a commitment to show him, in a way that he can see, how much he means to me and to our family. I will go against the ingrained desire to save.

Today being Wednesday, we headed to the grocery store. I recognized the Lord for offering good healthy foods that I enjoy at a price that suits us. When I reached my favorite section of the store, the markdown section, I found a few of the most wonderful surprises. Some of my husband’s favorite foods were on that shelf. I was so happy to find such wonderful “gifts” for him. But the last thing that I pulled from the shelf is what really drove His point home. There was a box of falafel marked down. I got the boys’ attention and had them read the box. They all burst out laughing!

You see, this is their daddy’s favorite word. He uses it as a nonsense word to make the children laugh. When taking a picture, we are all instructed to say, “FALAFEL.” When asked what we will be having for the next meal, he responds by saying, “falafel.” This is how the Lord showed me, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he had set these things aside me to give to him. He saw that my heart had changed, and He provided the way. He showed me that when we love each other in the way that He taught us, then our actions are pleasing to Him.

The Lord obviously knows what my love language is, because he showed me by allowing me to give gifts without overspending. He also arranged is so that I would get my 10 cent discount on my gas since my gas light lit up on the way to the store. Hmm, could it be that my love language is gifts? Nah, I’m way too cheep for that!