40-Day Challenge: Finances (Day 8)

 Begin with the Prayer of Abandonment.

Money — who makes it, who spends it, and how much is “enough” — is one of those topics that can be a minefield for many couples. Over the course of a lifetime, the ebb and flow of the bank account provides ample opportunities for a couple to practice simplicity on one hand, generosity on the other.  And yet, unexpected times of feast and famine — the loss of a job, an unexpected windfall — can create stress in a relationship if the couple does not learn to manage their expectations as well as their income.

In her book The Handbook for Catholic Moms, author and Catholic social media guru Lisa Hendey quotes Blessed Mother Teresa, who says:

“Let us more and more insist on raising funds of love, of kindness, of peace. Money will come if we seek first the kingdom of God – the rest will be given.”

A little later, Lisa quotes Phil Lenahan, who observes that the Lord made reference to money in half of the parables.  From these stories,  we can glean important principles of godly money management, which Lenahan lists for us: “generosity, temperance, industriousness, planning, cautious attitude toward debt, saving, unity within marriage, and developing priorities for the long run” (Hendey, 108).

Today’s challenge:  How is your family raising “funds of love, kindness, and peace”?  Which of the principles of godly money management do you need to work on?

Today’s prayer:  Thank you, God, for all the gifts you have given to us, as so many other families struggle with less. Help us to grow in stewardship, and not to be afraid of the future.  Give us opportunities to share your abundance — especially with those who feel abandoned and afraid.