Have you ever thought about the word "bondage?" I usually think of the word "bondage" in connotation with the word "slavery." Slavery was horrible. Slavery was brutal. Slavery was more often than not a death sentence. In fact, Webster's Dictionary defines "bondage" as "the state of being a slave; servitude or subjugation to a controlling person or force."
Debt goes hand in hand with bondage. We become slaves to our desire for more and in turn we become subject to this controlling force we call debt. Debt will bind your hands and feet and ask you to beg for mercy all the while quietly restraining until you can no longer get out of its binding force.
Our society has gotten to the point that many in slavery do, they give up and give in. Instead of fighting the bondage, they embrace it and live in it forever.
There is a way out.
The way out is called discipline and self-control.
Lately, the ties of debt have been so suffocating. My desire to give gifts, to give to those in need, to buy things I want are choked out by the binding tendrils of debt. Yes, we are so close to pulling all those tendrils out, but as you get close to the finish line, it gets harder. Harder to say no to more and yes to less. Harder to be patient and not give in. Harder to stay on budget and not overspend.
For those of you that are feeling choked by debt, there is a way out. Webster's Dictionary defines "discipline" as "control that is gained by requiring that rules or orders be obeyed and punishing bad behavior." In order to break out of the bondage of debt, you have to set down boundaries, rules, orders- a budget. When the budget is followed and the discipline is set in place, slowly, slowly the ties of debt will loosen and you will begin to feel the freedom again.
I am so excited for the day when we can finally be free of the ties and bondage to debt and say, "We're debt free!" That will be a glorious day!
