When Jana and I married there was no extra cash for frivolous extras – like cookware.
So we got our first set using S&H Green Stamps. Based on how much money you spent some grocery stores and gas stations gave little green stamps that you’d save in books. When you filled enough books you’d cash them in for all kinds of cool stuff.
S & H Green Stamps were a real help to the family budget but I found as a parent there was another type of stamp that I had to be careful I didn’t collect. Because, whenever I cashed in these stamps all I ever got were big regrets. Here’s what I mean.
The evening was young and one of the kids did something to frustrate or anger me. Rather than deal with it I would just ignore it. It was much easier to act like it didn’t happen. But in reality I wasn’t ignoring it. I was collecting a few stamps in my book – red anger stamps.
The night went on, things happened and I continued collecting stamps. Then one of the kids, or Jana, would do some tiny thing – only worth a stamp or two – but that was all I needed to fill my stamp book and I was ready to cash it in.
I would cash in my whole book of anger stamps leaving Jana and the kids wondering what happened. Why was I so angry over such a tiny thing. And here’s the weirdest part – I didn’t know why either.
Why had something so small caused such a huge reaction?
I had been collecting stamps and all my books were full.
As parents – and spouses – it’s important we keep short accounts. I can’t afford to add a few stamps to the book to be cashed in later. I have to deal with it right away, while it’s still a small thing, clean the slate through forgiveness and move on. I can’t afford to let a head of steam build up and then suddenly blow unexpectedly.
Love does not collect stamps or, as Paul said it, Love is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
– 1 Corinthians 13:5
Check out this S & H Green Stamp Commercial and notice that in my day kids were allowed to play with electrical cords.
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