Loyal-TEA : An Adams Family Cuppa

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. (Proverbs 21:21, ESV)

"Frugal Fanny" that I am, especially at the grocery store, I tend to let go of my thrifty propensity when I feel the Adams' teaching "kick-in." 
Daddy was an exceptionally kind man. He taught, mainly by his actions, that loyalty to folks he knew was the right way to live.... always being loyal to family and friends first. He helped strangers as well....BUT when it came to his services, he did not frequent national companies. Daddy was more of a "mom and pop" supporter of local businesses. Bummy Hampton's for meat. Rudy's for gas. Ray Kranz for plumbing or heating needs. Haddock's for groceries----usually home delivered, no less. (Of course, that gave jobs to those teens like Bugs Turner.) Tom C. Jones for insurance with Pedro Stamper. After Tongate's, THE hamburger joint in Hoptown and managed by his older brother, closed, Daddy did go to Burger King on Sunday night's for his weekly "senior special" hamburger.

This week at the grocery, I was working hard to meet my goal of always saving 30%, when I balked. I could NOT buy the "on sale" flour. Why not?
It wasn't Sunflour---milled in Hopkinsville by the Yost family. The ones who sat several pews up from us in the sanctuary of the First Methodist Church. No other flour ever graced the cabinet shelf at 2211 in Hoptown. Nor will it at 1152 in Memphis. Plus, today I used it to make some corn light bread for a sweet friend---a "relatively" new Memphian (a little over 2 yrs) with a Hoptown connection.

I caught Daddy's sense of loyalty at a young age. Now if I could just "catch" his kindness---he certainly had lots to spread around. As a result he found honor among his family and peers---an honor that followed him all of his days.

Hot tea was served every morning around the Adams table in Hoptown....and I learned at an early age that a cuppa loyal-TEA sweetened with kindness and sweet milk, (as noted on Sunflour recipes) always trumps a cuppa frugali-TEA. 

"frugali-TEA" BUSTED!

.........the righteous give generously (Psalm 37: 21, NIV)

Today's Commercial Appeal Baby Blues cartoon gave an example of frugal, that spoke to my economically sparing heart.

"Market price" means we've wandered into the wrong restaurant." 

I tend to sip from the melmac cup of frugali-TEA. My kids say I can easily wander into the "cheap domain." Even friend Terry P. asked me if I had Scotch blood in my veins. I do admit that I watch my pennies and I don't like waste. A "repair rather than replace" mentality.

Granted, frugality, in and of itself, can become an idol of its own. Sort of like a shopping martyr persona. On sale or with a coupon or NOTHING. More frugal to a fault than generous to a fault, maybe?

I don't want a "stingy" mentality----I want to give generously. I hope that's why I'm careful with my money.  I rationalize that I practice the frugal life so that I can give. Yet, if that's not what others perceive then obviously there's a problem here. A"trust" issue? Pride?

May I daily sip the cuppa God has for me---whether it's a cuppa generosi-TEA, sipped & served to others spontaneously or the cuppa frugali-TEA that allows me to give generously to others in a God-directed "measured way."

Generosi-TEA---from a God-filled heart.