Driving Our Money, 1

In 2006, we had been living for two years in our newly-built home in a new development. Though we had been certified as foster parents and had been waiting for children to be placed in our home, we were caught off-guard when suddenly, in the course of a few hours, we received a sibling group of three young kids into our home. Immediately, being a one-car family did not work. In a panic, we went out and bought a nearly-new silver car. This particular body design was still new to the market, so a couple of neighbors who saw our car only in passing called to ask if we had just bought a new BMW (though it was not). I found I liked the case of mistaken identity.

I liked driving that car. EVERYTHING. FELT. RIGHT. It was beautiful. It was quiet. The steering wheel's girth was just right. The cabin was spacious and the trunk large. I fell in LOVE with that car!

A year later, when the foster children were moved to a new home, it became apparent we did not need this car and its accompanying car payment. We prayed over our finances and immediately knew the car was not in alignment with God's plan for us. We were just keeping the shiny thing because it was "nice". David and I talked and talked about the prophets' guidance to remain free from debt and discussed what would be a wiser use of our money. But guess who could not let go of that wonderful car?

Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said in General Conference of November 2007:

"Most of us have more things expected of us than we can possibly do. As breadwinners, as parents, as Church workers and members, we face many choices on what we will do with our time and other resources...

"We should begin by recognizing the reality that just because something is good is not a sufficient reason for doing it. The number of good things we can do far exceeds the time available to accomplish them. Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives. "

I felt great in that car. It was roomy enough to fit future children, safe, reliable, and was reputable for holding its value. I could have easily rationalized keeping this car. It was a good car.

Why is it sometimes hard to give up good things for better things?