About 35 years ago, handy hubby and I bought our first new car. It was the bottom-of-the-line model, but a big step up for us. We were elated. At the same time, an acquaintance bought his daughter a nicer new car for high school graduation. “I feel sorry for her,” hubby commented, “because she’ll never feel like we do right now.”
We don’t properly appreciate blessings that come too easily. Disciplined blessings are the best. 
So very true. Not likely to finish and fly my airplane, now, but if I do, I will know every part…because I built every part.
Your thoughts soar, Andrew, no plane necessary.
Thank you for your thoughts this morning. Though I have been blessed to have many examples of having to save up for something, the item that came to my mind was a coffee maker. Not a fancy one, just a basic coffee maker. It was during a time of extreme dollar stretching that my coffee maker decided to give out and I am a woman who loves her coffee. When I was able to purchase that new coffee maker I felt so grateful. I took better care of that coffee maker than I had ever taken care of any of the past ones. It was a gift, a blessing and it felt so good to have it. I find it very interesting that out of all the major items that I have purchased in my life it is that coffee maker that still warms my heart and puts a smile on my face. Small blessings can feel huge and bring great joy.
Ah, coffee! I helped friends move into a new house today, and when we found the box with the coffee maker I declared, “Now this house is a home!”
Thank you, Lord, for creating the coffee bean.