Monday Musings... the No Whining Zone

We try to keep a No Whining Zone around here.  There's even a rustic sign above my daughter's bedroom door that says "No Whining", although she would point out that it faces our bedroom.  We try not to whine around here, but that doesn't mean we'll hold back on a legitimate gripe or two.

 

We're pretty blessed, but I'd also say we're from families that have worked hard all their lives for what they have.  We continue that tradition, and try to instill it in our daughter.  Now the gals and I don't have to look far to see folks much worse off then us and other folks much better off than we are.  There have been tight and tough times, but we take our lumps and move forward... we take care of our own.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain."

~1 Timothy 6:6

Now I know the Bible has a lot to say about contentment, but sometimes I just ain't too content, or Godly.  I keep looking at some fancy over-under shotguns, even been thinking that I need one... well, then again I've been thinking that for a long time.  

The main over-under shotgun I currently use is my $7,800 Ruger Red Label in 12 gauge.  It's been a workhorse of a shotgun... doing it's share of hunting and clay bustin' without a complaint, but I still keep looking at some of those fancy shotguns and thinking... hmmm, but really... no fancy gun can really replace my pricey Ruger.

I know what you're thinking, he got suckered if he paid $7,800 for a Ruger Red Label shotgun, but the truth of the matter is I paid for it over and over.  I started setting aside a few dollars here and there, then when I just about had $1,300 saved up for that Ruger, the washing machine died.  

Saved up some more and was just about to get that beautiful, American-made shotgun when the transmission in the pick-up truck started grinding away.  Put a few more bucks away, then some tires and brakes needed replaced about the same time the computer died.  You kind of get the picture... so by the time I finally bought that Ruger Red Label, I had saved up and spent just a little over $7,800.

Yeah, I could have just slapped down the credit card and bought the gun, but we try to "Dave Ramsey" things around here 'cause like the Rolling Stones... you can't always get what you want.  So... unlike the government... we try to pay cash.  We pay as we go and sometimes we gripe and sometimes we're not content, but one thing is for certain... when you come around here you are entering the No Whining Zone.