Thwarts, He Does

At the risk of calling myself cheap, I will opt for the nicer term, frugal.  I don't get a kick out of spending lots of money.  This summer, when we decided it was time to upgrade to a better camera, I almost threw up after we climbed in the car with our purchase.  Eric and I had never spent that much money on me in thirteen years of marriage, and I was ill about it.

Even though it was a huge purchase, we felt like it was a wise one, one that God had His blessing in.

Earlier this fall, I ordered three pair of shoes off of an online site.  All three were a bit more than I was comfortable paying for, but I was in need of comfort with a dash of cute thrown in, so order, I did.  All three pair felt awful, so return I did.  For whatever reason, God seemed to thwart me having expensive cowboy boots.  sigh.  I'll just never know His ways.

This past Sunday, our vacuum decided to die.  Sick of buying cheap vacuums that only last a year, I sent out a poll on Facebook.  Dyson came back the winner.  Now Dyson and cheap frugal gals like me don't go together.  But, I was in hopes of a hot, powerful beast that could tackle the shedding of my own beast.

After researching online and finding the best price, I entered the dreaded store of Walmart.  I hate it.  Not familiar with the store layout, I asked a worker where the vacuums were located.  She looked at me as if I were an interruption (Walmart employees usually do) and then told me they were on the other side of the store.  I got a tad snippy and said, "you mean by the food?"  But, I still didn't get any clearer directions.

Happy to find the Dyson DC25 in stock, I loaded up the beast into the cart with Sam...who happened to be wearing pajamas, because it was PJ day at school.  I am sure he can add that to his list of things to get counseled on later...

I enter the express lane...after all, I only have one item.  My yellow beast rings up for $100 more than the online price.  I gently told her it was much much much cheaper online....could she just verify the price.  (All the while, I am getting a panic attack because I hate for people behind me to have to be waiting...call it the gift of mercy.)  She verifies with two other more official looking Walmart employees who both say the same thing:  you are correct, this vacuum is $100 cheaper online, but we don't honor our online prices.

HUH?  You will honor competitor's prices but not your own?  You have got to be kidding me.  I think Sam Walton is rolling over in his grave as we speak.

They told me to go home and order it, then I could come back and get it.  (Exact same one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Does no one value a person's time anymore?  Does no one value cash anymore?)

So, I go home and try to order it and for whatever techno glitch reason, I couldn't ever get the order to go through.

Then, I got to thinking.  God, do you want me to have this vacuum?  Because He sure seems to be thwarting the idea!

I read of Compassion children and children in need of compassion and I shudder at the thought of spending so much money on a device that picks up dirt when most of these children sleep in homes with dirt floors.

I am American.  And undone.  And wondering how to live in this culture.  Crying because I know the cost of one nice vacuum can feed a family for a year in another part of the world.

Having clean floors or feeding another family.  I don't even know how to choose anymore.