UPDATE: I was still feeling a little down about not getting those boots, but after all of the very encouraging comments I received it just makes me feel better about the whole situation... Thanks so much!!!Ok,
bloggy friends this is another one of my random posts about the inner workings of my mind...If you are reading this part then you have committed to go on a journey with me into the depths of this crazy old mind of mine.
Back story... Although I noticed these (in "Sand" color)
boots last year, it wasn't until this year that I felt I must own a pair too. This year it was like everyone that I knew had a pair of these boots, some of my friends had the real deals (the 150 dollar ones), and some of my friends owned the "imitation" ones if you know what I mean. I do think these boots are just adorable, or at least kind of cute, (they are functional too where I live) but I think I really fell into the peer pressure thing...Of course none of the people that I know made me feel that way, it was more like a self imposed thing. I was able to recognize this "sin" in myself.
Skip ahead... I knew that owning the real deal boots would be out of the question for me and my budget, but I definitely set my mind to finding a cute pair of imitation ones... The only problem was that I started the search for the boots a bit too late, and
every time I went to look for them in the stores they were sold out, or they had the boots that were really bad imitations of the original boots. I wanted the ones that looked closest to the real ones, so I asked the very helpful
Payless employees when I needed to come back in to get some for next winter. After that I didn't really give it another thought.
Now we are up to date... Today I went to
Payless to buy my boys some new tennis shoes. I happily found some good deals for the two youngest boys, and I should have made my way to the checkout counter, but I did not. I meandered over to the ladies section looking over the new spring shoes, and to my surprise smack dab in the middle of the rack were the
coveted boots I have been searching for forever. I got so excited because I finally found them, and to "boot" the boots were in my size.
I tried them on, and they felt so comfy, and they looked so cute. Then one of the very peppy employees comes over and says something like "I know... I can't believe they sent us more of these boots". They (Payless) weren't suppose to get anymore of these boots until next season. Of course I talk the employee's ear off, and then he leaves me alone to make my decision. I am so desperate that I am asking "Terminator" my five year old if I should buy these boots... He says yes, and if I didn't buy them someone else would, and they would be gone the next time I come in... Boy, does that five year old have lots of wisdom :)
However, that is not what I needed to hear, because the tiny voice inside of me was telling me that it wouldn't be a wise buy for now. I wrestled because I did just get paid yesterday, and officially I could come up with the $40.00 it cost to purchase the boots. Again, I thought you will get these boots, and they will set in your closet untouched for 6 months or so. Then I thought- Yes, but I will have them already for next year, and I won't have to go looking for them mid August. Then I thought about the word "thrifty". This week I just finished reading the "
Duggar's" book (you know the couple that have 18 children...by the way the book is great, and I will write about it soon). Michelle
Duggar was talking about how we can honor God by being thrifty with our money, and not purchasing things we don't need.
Were those boots a need, or a want? I thought about the reason I wanted the boots....was it more to be like everyone that has the boots? Sadly, I don't think I could say a strong "NO" to that question. I tried to call my husband and ask him because if he said yes than that would be a definite sign that I needed to buy them because he never says yes :) No answer on the cell. I picked those boots up and prepared to buy them, but I couldn't at the last minute and I put them back. I think "Terminator" reinforced that they would be gone next time...thanks for the reminder "Terminate" :)
I head to the counter, and the other sales person said "So you aren't going to get the boots?" I said something like, "No, I can't justify buying the boots and letting them set for six months." Both of the employees sort of agreed with me :) I again confirmed with the employees about when I needed to come and get the boots for next winter, and then I paid for my boys' tennis shoes.
I left still really wanting those boots, but feeling like I did the right thing. I called my hubby again to tell him my tale, and he told me that I made a wise decision. I was hoping he would say something
different. Hoping he would feel sorry for me; I told him if he really wanted to, he could go back to the store and get me those boots... Fat Chance there :)
It is so strange to me how things like this can consume me... I was still dealing with the feelings of wanting those boots, and then I heard this verse on the car radio on the way home..."Everything is
permissible, but not everything is beneficial" from 1 Corinthians 10. I felt that verse spoke right to my boot situation. It is good for us to say no at times, even if we can say yes :) It is good for me to say no a lot :)
Thanks for sticking with me through the madness of my mind, but I hope that this post may encourage you the next time you are in a similar situation. We can learn a lot from each other :)
