Yahweh’s Money®️: The Crossroads of Religion & Money

Debt-Free Giving: Letting Your Heart Lead

• Shay Cook & Vanessa McNelley • Season 3 • Episode 69

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Have you ever felt the pressure to give the perfect holiday gift without breaking the bank? Join Shay Cook and Vanessa McNelley as they unravel the complex and often stressful relationship between holiday gift-giving and financial balance. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 9:7, they emphasize giving from the heart rather than out of obligation. They share personal anecdotes of navigating holiday traditions and the emotional tug-of-war between lavish and meaningful gift-giving. This episode is packed with reflections on the nostalgia of childhood holiday catalogs and the commercial influences that shape our perceptions of the "perfect" holiday season.

Listen in as we explore the profound impact small gifts can have, often eclipsing their more extravagant counterparts. With personal stories ranging from abundant Christmases to those with a singular, cherished gift, we highlight the true spirit of the holidays: heartfelt generosity over materialism. Vanessa shares a touching story about a small, thoughtful gift during a lonely Christmas that underscores the deep emotional impact of genuine giving. We reflect on the values passed down through our families and how they mold our holiday traditions, sometimes making it difficult to transition between different styles of celebration.

The episode also shines a light on the power of small acts of kindness and the ripple effects they create. From sharing a simple Christmas card with a neighbor to unexpectedly receiving support during tough times, these moments can transform lives. We dive into the concept of paying it forward, suggesting that the value of a gift is in the intention and love behind it, not its price tag. As family gatherings loom, we advocate for setting realistic expectations and savoring the unique moments each celebration brings, reminding ourselves to appreciate the love and effort at the heart of every holiday gathering.

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Our podcast is proudly sponsored by Crusaders for Change, LLC (C4C) and hosted by our CEO and Founder, Mrs. Shay Cook. At C4C, we provide customized corporate financial wellness programs for businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Our services are tailored to create happier, healthier, and more productive work environments. We also empower individuals and couples to overcome debt, improve their credit, boost savings, and more. Ready to learn more about how C4C can impact your life? Contact us today at https://www.crusaders4change.org/!

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Shay:

Ever felt those awkward vibes when religion and money come up? You're not alone. Welcome to Yahweh's Money, the podcast where we tackle the crossroads of faith and finance. I'm Shay Cook, an Accredited Financial Counselor, and the CEO and founder of Crusaders for Change LLC.

Vanessa:

And I'm Vanessa McNelley, Accredited Financial Counselor and COO of Crusaders for Change. Join us on our journey as we discuss topics like tithing, saving, and conquering debt through religious perspectives. Let's get started.

Shay:

Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of Yahweh's Money. I can't believe it, Vanessa, but the holidays are almost here, are you?

Speaker 3:

really Like I I don't even know what to say to that Like I feel like it was almost like Christmas yesterday last year. Seriously, I know.

Shay:

Right, this year flew by. I mean, I don't know if it's because we get older, but they don't seem. They seem, oh my God, every day, it's just every year. 2024 is almost over.

Speaker 3:

I know, I know my aunt always tells me that a year feels like five months to her.

Shay:

Oh. So maybe it's an age thing, Maybe, Maybe. I wonder how it feels for my 92-year-old grandmother. You need to ask her, I know Well, we're back y'all, and the holiday season is a time for giving. But how much is too much? In today's episode, Vanessa and I are tackling the question do we overdo it during the holiday? Yeah, Many of us feel the pressure to give the perfect gifts, host amazing gatherings and make everything picture perfect, but sometimes it comes at the cost of our finances and peace. That part over and over right. Let's explore how to find a balance between generous giving and being good stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us. Second Corinthians 9, 7 says each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, For God loves a cheerful giver. This basically tells us to give with the right heart and attitude, not out of guilt or pressure during the holidays. Oh my God, Holidays is real.

Speaker 3:

It really is, and we do feel that pressure and that guilt, especially when somebody gives you a gift that you weren't planning on giving a gift that part. I know my mom used to always keep like two or three extra gifts that were wrapped and ready to go.

Speaker 3:

Oh my god, and like there was like a lady's gift and a man's gift oh, wow like yeah, so if somebody gave her something, it's like, oh, oh, yes, I have something for you too, and you know you're like, okay, you're giving them socks and lotion Yay, that's wonderful. But it was like she always knew somebody was going to give her something that you know she wasn't prepared to give back.

Shay:

Wow.

Speaker 3:

Oh my gosh.

Shay:

You're there. There is that pressure. There is that pressure there really is. And I just, I don't like giving gifts anymore. But we can talk about that because in the word on this, this scripture, it says a giving attitude is more important than the amount to giving. The person who can give only a small gift shouldn't be embarrassed. Ooh, we were just talking about that.

Shay:

God is concerned about how a person gives from his or her resources, as we stated, according to the standard of giving in the Macedonian churches in the world is difficult to match. God himself is a cheerful giver. Consider all he has done for us. He is pleased when we, who are created in his image, give generously and joyfully. So do you have a difficult time letting go of your money? It may reflect ungratefulness to God. We kind of talked about that in the last episode. But yeah, this gift giving thing is real and holidays I mean, it just gets like the pressure, like we said, gets worse. Because you see, if you watch commercials which I don't, but you hear it on the radio I just stay away because I'm a glutton man. If I see a commercial about a cleaning supply, I just stay away Cause I'm a I'm a glutton man, if I see a commercial about a cleaning supply, I'm buying it. So I know not to watch, especially around the holidays.

Shay:

So yeah, and these kids are flooded with commercials on YouTube and TikTok. Oh my God, no wonder they're crazy Like I want this, I want this, I want this. It's like oh my God, get a job.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, exactly, Do you remember getting like the Sears catalog and you know, every year you'd sit down and you could like go through the Sears catalog and you could make your list for Santa Claus. And it's like now, it's just like that's on steroids.

Shay:

Girl. I got an Amazon catalog the other day and I was sitting at a table like oh my God, and they put in their adult stuff and kids stuff and I was like my daughter's like throw that thing away. I can't believe. Amazon sent me a catalog for the holidays. So, yes, Sears catalog was real, JCPenney, I remember that. Yes, Kmart Well, all those had like their different like flyers Even I get to, I don't know why, Cause I think it's my husband buy bourbon at the NEX. We get NEX Naval Exchange. For those that don't understand, we get a catalog for them for the holidays. And it's this big. Literally it's not even eight by 12. It's like huge and it's all. I was like, oh my God, y'all need to go somewhere.

Speaker 3:

I want to get one of those, just to flip through it and dream that's what I want.

Shay:

Well, yeah, really, or be depressed, right, I miss all that stuff.

Speaker 3:

But you know, that brings us like to the next point of this and it's like there is power in small gifts.

Shay:

Yes, there is.

Speaker 3:

And I think people don't think about this often enough. But you don't have to give everybody this amazing, huge gift like being thoughtful and just remembering someone that is huge, huge, huge, huge. Sometimes those small gifts make the biggest difference. It doesn't have to be a lavish gift, yeah, and I know like in my past some of my favorite gifts that I've received have been the ones that have just been thoughtful and from the heart and have like either taken time or just some, you know, some effort put into it, versus someone saying here you go, here's a hundred dollar gift card to Amazon.

Speaker 3:

You know that there's no thought or love put into that, it's just, you know, taking your credit card and swiping.

Speaker 3:

But you know when you take some time and you put some thought into this. Like I love when I get, like home homemade baked goods from people, especially people who know what I really love yeah, Because I don't keep a lot of that at home and I do crave sweets constantly, especially during the holidays, so I love getting those things. I love getting, you know, a $5 Starbucks card to go get a coffee, because that's it's so like it's just the sweetest gift to me to be able to go and say this coffee is from so-and-so.

Shay:

Yeah.

Speaker 3:

I love those little things and those mean so much more to me than those big things.

Shay:

I love that. My neighbors in my last house used to give us cookies and stuff and I don't think they listen to this podcast and if they do, I forgive me. But we were getting up and my husband was like we don't know where those people's hands been at all. He's one of those like germaphobes. In that kind of way I'm like I would always eat one because I didn't want to lie, but then I would be like praying to god, like oh my god, I hope I don't die or get sick because you don't know how people in their houses are, and uh, but um, but yeah, I love that too. You know, it's funny.

Shay:

I have a story when I'm nate and I I think I might have shared this, but nate and I were dating my parents had given me were going to get me a stereo, like one of those boom box kind of stereo, but the two big speakers with the CD changer. This was 1999. Like I mean, he had the five disc changer and everything and I was so excited about that Right. And so my husband gave me this beautiful gold cross necklace and when he gave it to me I was like all right, thank you. Now onto my, my other gift, my, like, my better gift, or I don't remember what I say. My husband remembers to this day, 20 some years later. He remembers Cause he was like, oh my God, like.

Shay:

Okay, now onto, the gift of whatever I said was very insulting, even when I think about it. Like I was like, oh my god, like. And the funny thing is when we got married this is before we even got married when we got married, they shipped the stereo to Germany and they stole the, the speakers. But I still have that necklace. So it's like wow, it's like so, because I was trained that bigger, better, like, more lavish is the best. Yeah, like you don't get small gifts where I, where I want my family, like they never. They were all about packing, stacking the tree with thousands of gifts. Like it was crazy, like we were some spoiled behind kids we definitely grew up in different households that is for sure, yeah.

Speaker 3:

I know yeah, I think I was telling you earlier I literally would get something to wear. We would get like, and on top of that, underwear, socks, and then we get like something fun, and then we get a stocking. But I will tell you, the stocking usually had things that came from the gas station on my dad's way home from work that night, um, that he forgot to take the price tags off of oh my god, yeah, yeah, it was like gashed.

Speaker 3:

You know, gas station, little trinkets yeah um, and it was like santa doesn't go to the gas station to get his stuff, you know, um, but it was always so funny to like know that this is, you know, all this stuff's from the gas station, um, but yeah, so that was like our christmas every year. So I don't know what these elaborate christmases are like. I got a lot of them. Oh, I think I would just be overwhelmed completely with that. Just I wouldn't know what to do. I mean, I've gotten some nice gifts from my family Don't get me wrong, but there was always like a number. It was like you never went over three or four gifts total. Yeah, yeah, which I think is a good rule, honestly, to to have like a specific number of things so nobody gets more than the other or feels like they're getting left out or whatever there is yeah, exactly yeah, after I started my family with my husband, like he was not about that life.

Shay:

He's like we're not doing a bunch of gifts, we're not getting all dressed up on Christmas because I would like get Alana all dressed up in these brand new pajamas and take pictures. He's like we ain't about that life. She get a couple, she get a few gifts Cause you know, especially as kids are growing up, you'll get like I remember giving Alana a lot of stuff or my family center and a lot of stuff and she would play with that one thing or she'll play with the box. You always hear that story. Alana was one of those kids. She would play with the box before she played with her gifts.

Speaker 3:

And kids get so much stuff and they can't even comprehend. Yeah exactly, exactly. So, it is. It's really hard to you know, to, I'm sure, to go from from one extreme to the other.

Vanessa:

On either end of that.

Speaker 3:

Exactly. But we also have to remember that whatever we give, it needs to come from our heart, and God can take that and he can multiply it in ways that we cannot even understand. So that's like a huge thing. We need to remember that. You know, we may give something that in our minds is so insignificant, but to someone else it can mean everything. I remember three Christmases ago I was spending my Christmas alone. I was in Puerto Rico working and it was just me and my little dog. And I remember my one of my neighbors came over Christmas Eve with a little package for me and she knew that I love coffee and she gave me this gift. She said open it tomorrow morning. So I did open my one gift. My dad didn't even send me anything that Christmas and I opened my one gift and it was the cutest little pink coffee mug with flamingos all over it and it was the sweetest thing. It was that and some homemade peach cake.

Vanessa:

That she put in there.

Speaker 3:

So, you know, I'm sitting there on Christmas by myself and I'm as happy as can be because it's like I have this sweet treat I love sweets and I have my cute little coffee mug and I make coffee to put in it and I am just enjoying my at home, alone Christmas.

Speaker 3:

So much because this one person took a couple of minutes to wrap something small for me Wow, and she will never, ever know what that meant to me that day, because she has no clue. That was the only present that I got that year, oh, wow. So we need to be really mindful of these things, that these small things can make such a difference, such a difference I know, growing up, something that we did as I was a young adult and still try to do it as often as I can today is my mother, my niece and I, instead of buying gifts for each other, we would go shopping on one of those angel trees at one of the stores for elderly people who were in nursing homes. Oh, wow, and it was always. It always put things into perspective because of their wants. Most of the time it was grippy socks.

Speaker 3:

They wanted, yeah, handkerchiefs for men, because they wanted to have their you know, their cute little pocket handkerchief like they used to have Older ladies like baby dolls, especially when they were going through some kind of you know Alzheimer's or dementia, because it reminded them of being a mother and having their baby with them. And it was these small things. I remember my mom, my niece and I even when my niece was two and three years old we had so much fun going out together and putting together these little gift bags for these people. We had no clue who they were, but we got to spend a lot of time together. It cost a whole lot less, honestly, than what gifts would have been for both of them, and we just got to enjoy the day and make these memories with each other.

Speaker 3:

I love that, yeah, so and I was blessed so much from those small times, and we have to remember too that this frees us up from the pressure to give big and to do it all. If we remember that there is so much of that power in those small gifts and we can remember what that does for someone else. Because I think that's the biggest thing. Is that pressure?

Speaker 3:

I mean just like you were saying. You know from your childhood and growing up in a family that gave so much. There's that pressure there to compete with that and to outdo and to to overdo, and you know, that's what you know, so that's what you strive for.

Vanessa:

Yeah, and you know so.

Speaker 3:

so what do you do when you don't anymore, and how do you feel when you don't anymore? I'm sure there's that, that inside pressure that's like I'm not doing enough.

Shay:

Exactly, or that you know there's all this debt that comes with it. I mean, let's talk about the financial demand. Ooh Lord, I mean, from what I remember, my parents struggle with that for the credit. They put everything on credit or they use their dividends when we lived in Alaska, as I said earlier, and it was just irresponsible to me. Now that I look back, it's very irresponsible and that's what my husband was trying to to me. Now, when I look back, it's very irresponsible and that's what my husband was trying to teach me. Like you know, we all these things first of all, alana's not going to remember, because I was doing it for her trying to replicate for her.

Shay:

she's like not gonna remember this mess and the big, the best Christmases we have has been about the experience, like the house that we were in or the place that we lived or when we went to Disney World or Hawaii or whatever. Like those experiences, like when we did those trips we didn't give gifts because the gifts was the trip, right, and the experience and the beautiful pictures and all the memories we were to create. But yeah, you know, seeing our family continue to do that, I'm just like I'm gonna age now I don't care, but when I was younger I did and I felt like I wasn't enough or didn't do enough and you know there was shame that came from them, like why you didn't do all this for Alana, you know, when my child she's still growing up, she's 24, but almost. But you know she's not expecting all of that and so if never she has kids, she's not going to do that, cause she knows experiences are more and the small thing matters, right.

Shay:

And I know, just seeing my neighbor's face, just the joy that came from them when I gave them a Christmas card. I mean they were so shocked by that because we were new to the neighborhood and I just wanted to, you know, give them a little bit of joy, and they were so shocked by that. So those little things really matter. You know, generosity really creates a ripple effect. Small acts of giving can have ripple effects that we never see. Like, excuse me, like Vanessa, like you said, when that lady gave you that mug and that peach cake, which sounds so good, it was delicious.

Shay:

I mean she didn't even know what she, like you, said what she was doing and that's so beautiful. You know, or like when Nate and I were really struggling in Germany, I think it was Alana's first Christmas. She turned one, she was born in December and I don't know if it was Airman Relief Society or somebody came over with gifts. We were picked, as you know, we were struggling military family and they came in cooking all these great gifts for Alana. I and I'll never forget that because you know they really cared about their service members and so those small acts really really matter. And you know, yeah, it's great to give great big gifts, to expensive gifts if you can, but people just want to be seen, they want to be loved and they want to feel that joy and all times it's just showing up with a cup and some peach cake is all you need to do exactly, yeah, yeah, and you know, and they want to be remembered.

Speaker 3:

I think that's the biggest thing, too is they want to know that someone has taken the time to think of them and to make sure that they are remembered that day.

Shay:

Yeah, like I said, be seen Exactly, exactly, you know, and imagine if your gift leads another to helping or your donation helps fund a project or something even greater. You know, when I uh one of my older churches um, it's the same church but they've done merged and became something else but at five I five, I used every, used, every year my daughter, I would participate in the christmas giving function event where we would go out to lower income neighborhoods and give gifts and you know money. And I'll never forget one year my husband was going into giant, a local grocery store, and he came across two 100 bills and we we are not this weird, we're so I don't even know what to call us. I guess we're so goody, two shoes. He was like I just found it to $100 bills. I was like, oh shoot, and most people I'm not saying most people, some people would have been like oh, yay, we were like, no, I called the store. I was like it's, anybody reported the money missing.

Shay:

No, we literally were going back to John like asking them over and over, and then we were like Nate's, like I'm not keeping this money. I'm like no, we are so blessed. I mean, yes, we could have used that money. We're like nope Cause it just felt wrong.

Shay:

So we gave a hundred dollars to one of the people at the through the church and then I gave we that was actually the year in 2018, we went to Hawaii and I gave my brother and his family a hundred dollar bill and I just felt like God was blessing us and trying to see what we would do with this and I'm like we're not keeping this for ourselves, we're giving this away because we weren't expecting it, and I just don't feel right. When I find money, I'm still one of those people like oh my God, I found $5. I always give that money away when I find something no-transcript for Christmas gifts, you know and it's just like oh my God. So, but yeah, it's just nobody you don't know. And then being able to fund and give help people is where it's at.

Speaker 3:

Exactly yeah, and you can give in ways that really does kind of spread that love too, which is an amazing thing you know and, like you said, you don't even know half the time, like what's going to come of it or what's going to happen, and that's not for us to know honestly but it's, it's amazing to kind of think about, like, what that could do for someone else someone else who really needs it, like, could that keep their lights on?

Speaker 3:

this month, you know, feed their family? Could that, you know, give them a Christmas that they weren't going to have before? So there's so many blessings that can come out of that.

Shay:

And God uses our willingness to give, no matter the size, to bless others. So I know just every, like you said, he knows when he and I find some money or we have an opportunity to give, we're going to give, and so he continues to bless us in that way, so we can continue to give and keep that cycle going.

Speaker 3:

Right, yep, and we should all strive to be like that too. Yeah, exactly, and have that willingness, and really that is what holidays are about. Yeah, you know, we've gotten into this societal thing where it's all about spending money and more and more and more, and this picture perfect day, and that's not the real meaning of this. And we have to take a second sometimes and step back and say, okay, what is the reality of this and what are they telling me?

Shay:

What are they telling you? This is supposed to be about.

Speaker 3:

I think we forget about that a lot of times. So we really need to just take a second sometimes and say, okay, let me get back to where it's supposed to be and it's all about, you know, kind of bringing things out for other people and really helping them. So you know, and then when we give um, you know we need to move in faith and know that God will multiply our efforts.

Speaker 3:

And we're talking about the smaller gifts again with that. So you know, it may be you find a hundred dollars and you give that to someone who really needs it. Well, maybe a hundred dollars is not what they needed.

Vanessa:

They needed $75 to make it work this month.

Speaker 3:

So they have 25 extra dollars. Yeah, and they're in just this place of such, you know, just peace and happiness that they want to give to somebody else. And pay it forward, you know, and it really it can grow, and it can multiply, and it can change somebody's whole outlook. And it can change their lives.

Shay:

Yeah, like I said, don't give more. Give from your heart. You know God, yeah, he's just want to see where your heart's at and I love that. Yeah, Paying it for it. I love when you get in the lines back in the day. When I go through the drive-thru I try to cook more now, but you know, and somebody's like your food's already been paid, and so then you're like, all right, well, I'll pay for the other person. But I mean you want to keep that going and I love that, that trend, or just being able to be a part of that five and they give 20, you know, so we can keep it moving. You never know, yeah never, know Exactly.

Speaker 3:

You know, and God doesn't measure the size of your gift. He measures the willingness to give, and that's something we have to remember too. So, even if you find yourself in this place where you can only give a dollar or two, or you know you can only, you know, spare two things out of your pantry, or whatever it might be, or however you might give, if you are willingly giving that with a happy heart. God sees that and that's what he's looking for. He's looking for people who are so happy and so in love with him that that is their joy in life is to give and help others because they feel so blessed.

Shay:

Yes, amen. And don't compare your gifts to others, right? Because I know I struggled with the envy back in the day, especially with gifts and seeing coming in family parties or Christmas gatherings and, like you know, all the cousins are bragging about what they got. You know, and I guess we probably were one of them, since our parents was getting everything, including one Christmas where we got the new, the first Nintendo ever, and my mom bought 15 games to go with that Nintendo and she used to try to hide stuff down in the basement in Alaska and we always knew what she was giving us. So I'll never forget 15 Nintendo games.

Shay:

I only remember playing like kid Icarus and Mario and all those, but I was like I was thinking other days like Icarus and Mario and all those, but I was like I was thinking other days like I don't even remember, but like two or three of those games, but yeah, she, she used to just go all out. So you know, obviously there's something going on there with her prior, with her backstory and her family, um, but so who knows what my family was probably like comparing to us, because we had so much, even though you know there was the financial piece, the irresponsible financial piece with it, but try not to compare gifts. This can be hard for some people, but you know God gives you what you need and you should be grateful for that Exactly.

Speaker 3:

And I'll tell you, for most of my Christmas experiences, the most expensive gift has never been my favorite. I don't know about you, but it's usually not my favorite, so just remember that when you're trying to compare.

Shay:

Yeah, I have to think back on that Cause I'm thinking back on the stereo that I was talking about earlier. That was a great gift, but it wasn't the gift Like that cross gold necklace was, and that man that gave it to me that was the best gift I've ever had. So, yeah, I have to do some self-reflection and see about that.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, exactly I know. Last year was my very first Christmas with my boyfriend and he gave me, so we didn't do a huge Christmas last year and we're not going to do another huge Christmas this year. But last year he gave me something. I don't even think he knew at the time when he purchased it what it would mean to me. I'm probably going to cry talking about it, but he gave me something I don't even think he knew at the time when he purchased it what it would mean to me.

Speaker 3:

I'm probably going to cry talking about it, but he gave me a box of Marzipan candy. Oh, and that was my mother's favorite candy, oh God, and it meant so much to me that he would give me something that he didn't even know was my mom's favorite.

Shay:

What he just knew.

Speaker 3:

Oh, I was going to say, oh, look at him listening to you, oh wow. He knew I talked about Mars, apollo and all these things but um, and he knew Germany was like my thing and all this stuff, but that to me meant more to me last year than anything else. So those little things matter more than you know, that's crazy. You got a good one there.

Shay:

You know, we're hosting our first huge family Christmas gathering this year and, man, it's hard not to compare to all of the 20, 30, 40 years of gatherings that have been going on, like trying to compete with that. And my husband told my aunt and uncle a couple of weeks ago at my brother's retirement that you guys need to set your expectations very, very, very low. You guys need to set your expectations very, very, very low. She's like what she's like, no, he's like. What I want you to do is make sure your expectations are standard and low. So, whatever we do, it'll be good, Because people are going to come in thinking it should have been like on Sherry's way.

Shay:

But everybody's had these different gatherings and done great things. But sometimes they've been a hit or miss. Sometimes they have so much food it's overwhelming and then it's not good, or the list goes on of good and bad things. So I don't want to compare even the experience. We're saying don't compare your gifts to others, Don't even compare your experience. If you're going to host a party, do it to the best of your ability. Don't try to, like my daughter, say don't do too much. You're doing too much Cause I'm like, Ooh, we can get specialized ornaments we can have. I want to do like a Kardashian Christmas. I want to have snow coming down the foyer. She's like no stop. I'm like, yeah, you're right, You're right, and plus I'm not trying to go broke.

Speaker 3:

I see the money flying right now.

Shay:

So I haven't done any of that and I'm trying to go to black uh, black Friday sales and get the some you know stuff there and make sure we don't spend too much. But all right, well, I'm going to wrap with this Whittles offering story. So I think Mark 12, 41 through 44 sums today's episode. Well, it says Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts but a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, jesus said truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth but she, out of her poverty, put in everything all she had to live on. Wow, I don't know if I could do that. That's faith, amen. Any other follow-up thoughts other than that's faith?

Speaker 3:

yeah, you know I I talk about this every year, but my grandfather grew up in the depression and on good years he would get an orange, and if we compare what we get yearly to his hopeful gift of getting an orange every year, I think we're doing okay. I love that. And I think, if we're able to give that. You know I think we're doing okay. So just remember that, if you can, can put yourself in that place to where getting an orange is an amazing Christmas. I think we're doing good.

Shay:

When you told me that story, I was going to give my nieces and nephews oranges, and my daughter's like do you want to do that? I say, do it. Yeah, with the upside of I would still give them their gift, but I just want to see their faces and see their reactions. So like, yeah, like everybody's getting orange this year, maybe I'll do that for the Christmas party.

Speaker 3:

Like, everybody got an orange in a paper sack.

Shay:

Yeah, orange in a paper sack, wow Well, hey, everyone. Thank you for joining us for another episode. Hope you have a wonderful day. A big thank you for listening to this episode. We hope you found today's chat about the intersection of religion and money insightful. We would love to hear your feedback. Hit that subscribe button or follow the podcast and please feel free to leave us a review.

Vanessa:

Yes, and for the latest Yahweh's Money content, visit us at www. crusaders4change. org or find us anywhere you listen to podcasts. Until next time, stay financially fit and spiritually inspired and remember it's always better Yahweh's way.

People on this episode

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Shay Cook

Host