I am currently in the process of trying to train my kids right. With five in the home (9,7,5,2 and 3 months) that is sometimes a tall order. What I've seen in my few years is the importance of, yes, letting the kids make mistakes -- EARLY. Like at 5, 7, 9 years old -- and allowing them to face the consequences when there's little more at stake than a smidgen of their pride and a loving rod of correction. I have seen in my own family the pitfalls of bailing kids out at these ages and I'm striving to find a balance.

I've never spent more than $1500 on a car (my Challenger was a gift from my dad), and as much as I think it'd be fun to have something like a Challenger for a daily driver I know at this stage of my life it ain't gonna happen. Besides, I made my wife promise never to let me borrow money to buy a car -- ANY car. I'm cheap, I'm poor, and I can fix my own junkers, why would I give that much money to a bank when I can give much less to a car parts store and still get back and forth to work just the same?

About happiness. I don't NEED a Challenger to be happy, mine or a new one. Really, I don't need ANY of my stuff to be happy. I think we too often confuse enjoyment and pleasure with happiness. Maybe happiness is the wrong word. How about Joy. I can be joyful with just my wife and my kids, a roof over our heads and enough food to keep us fed. Well... I suppose I don't even need that. I have my Lord, my Jesus, and HE is all I really need. If He ever decided to take it ALL, I'd still have Him. I pray He never tests me in the ALL part, but I know He supports even in something as nightmarish as losing a child -- I have been there.

So, where is this rambling going? I won't say never borrow money for a car like me, for most people that is not practical. I will say, don't let any car, any posession, any material thing, even any person, become a god, become an object of worship. None of those things will EVER bring happiness, at best fleeting pleasure. There is only one God, only One who can provide, sustain and give true JOY -- only He is worthy of worship.