YES! WE CAN!

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:19

These three little words catch our attention when spoken with enthusiasm. A “yes, we can” attitude works in several categories of our life, and change takes place. So easily spoken, those words are used by mortgage companies, auto dealerships, credit card companies, investment brokers and a host of others looking to snare the naïve public. “Yes, You Can” is their cry and often convincing. The only thing new about these words is the motive behind them. Remember the story of The Little Engine That Could? Sound familiar? It is a children’s story used to encourage and build confidence in the lives of children, not for monetary purposes, but the sheer will to succeed. It is still one of my favorite children’s stories.

Many of us have enjoyed the luxuries of life and succumbed to our wants without counting the long-term cost. The desire to "keep up with the Joneses” is as natural as breathing. It is the way of the world, and I am not immune to the same. By the time I could afford what the Joneses had, it was out of style, and the Joneses had moved on to the next latest thing.

Unfortunately, we have raised a generation unprepared to meet the changes and challenges facing many households. We want more for our family, so we buy into a system of finance that is so easy. Life is full of changes, some good and others not so pleasant. Loss of jobs and the rising costs of taxes, insurance, food, gas, and utilities are not the result of bad parenting, though some personal hardships are. Our country is experiencing an economic crisis, and families are hurting.

While I do not have a magical fix, we can tighten our belts. Here are a few suggestions: I can go back to basic living (nothing like Little House on the Prairie you understand; more like The Waltons. They had electricity, something I did not have for several years as a child.) I can stop making excuses and exercise fiscal responsibility. I can take responsibility for my actions in words and deeds. I can curtail my entertainment expenses by reading good books, playing board games, or having a good family conversation. I can stop eating out and I can bring back Grandma’s recipes and work leftovers into a gourmet meal. I think I can get 96 loads of laundry out of 150 ounces of detergent as advertised. I must first learn what constitutes a load and remember to measure it.

These are challenging times. We must teach our families to be thrifty, watchful, thankful, and prayerful. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:19. By God’s grace, we will survive the difficulties of life. YES, WE CAN!

God’s servant Nehemiah faced insurmountable enemies, obstacles, and discouragements, but with a love for God, an obedient heart and a Yes, We Can attitude, the walls went up in record time Nehemiah 6:15. ■