and I exchange these sayings from time to time and this is also one of her grandmother's favorite. This one usually refer to people who are greedy and have a "keeping up with the Jones'" mentality. In Jamaica, we usually refer to these people as having a "red eye." Their eyes are always looking at other people's belongings and coveting what their friends, neighbors or even family members already have. They are never satisfied with what they have.
This "don't hang your basket further than you can reach it" saying was coiled to talk about how these kinds of people ("red eye" people/covetous people) are constantly trying to reach higher than they can afford(therefore hanging their baskets too high). My friend has often said that her grandmother would explain that when a person hang their basket out of their reach, they will later have to ask for help and their neighbors (most likely the Jones'...lol) will have to come and help them use a stick to push their basket down. Thereby revealing the contents of their basket. This would definitely be embarasssing thus the reason why our grandmothers felt that it was vital for people to stay in their means.
I agree that if you are stretching your limit and living beyond your means, there will be consequences for those actions. People who cannot be content with what they have will eventually have to face their bad decisions. I'm not saying you shouldn't be ambitious because I believe that ambitions fuel success. However, if you are constantly not satisfied with your accomplishments and become very greedy, it will catch up to you eventually. Soon, you will realize that you can't keep reaching for something that is so out of your reach and you will fall.
Count your blessings, no matter how small they may appear. With the economy being as bad as it is today, we should definitely be grateful for whatever we have. I thank God each day that I have a roof over my head, food to eat and all the other blessings in my life. We are only human and will continue to have many desires but always remember that God will supply our needs but He doesn't have to give us everything we want.
4 comments:
Amen, this is sooooo true. If we spend time thanking our Heavenly Father for the blessings that we have thus far, we wont have time to watch what others have. My husband has a saying that goes like this, "I'D RATHER BE BLESSED, THAN LOOK BLESSED". Many have trying to keep up with the Jones and say that they are blessed but really arent because of the struggle to make payments, etc.
Lady Melissa,
I really like that, "I'd rather be blessed than looked blessed." Some people are really all about appearances but for me it's really what's in someone's heart that matters. You don't have to have a lot but if you have a good heart it will show and to me you will be far more richer because of that. Thanks for sharing and be blessed!
That is so good! Awesome points. I love 'em. Especially important for us to note in the economic situation today and that we be wise.
Thanks PD for all your comments. It seems you really appreciate my grandmother's wisdom. I'm sure she would be proud.
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