Guilty about spending on vacation

[May1980]

The more I grow in faith the more guilty I feel when our family spends a large amount of money on something like a vacation (it’s costly as we’re a big family!). And it’s not necessary.
I sponsor kids and that money COULD go to feed them, literally. I click a button and can actually order food for my sponsored child in Africa, then get a photo of what I ordered with the child, so I know it arrives for sure in country. Her mom just DIED. This is real life.

Husband works hard for his salary and gets a lot of joy out of well deserved vacations. (I don’t earn money since I am at home with the kids). I just feel very blessed and since we have way more than we need, I want to share most of the excess, but this is not a view he shares and he earns it. And yes, college costs for a large family down the road are real, too. But I still feel guilty these kids struggle to eat and go to school when we’re planning vacations. How do other Catholics think about things like this?

 

[Bonnie]

I hope you don’t try to put your guilt onto your husband and kids. There’s nothing wrong with vacations - even vacations to the one of the Mouse lands. (The priciest destination I could think of.)

Down the road, when your kids are grown, you’ll probably be able to give more. Your husband works hard for the money, so he gets the biggest say in how it’s spent.

If you continue to feel guilty about vacations, talk with your priest.

 

[May1980]

I hope not; it is more of an internal feeling of guilt. I agree with you. It is still difficult to think about! Am I doing enough to help others? Who knows. I spend a few hours each day when kids are in school encouraging those in poverty, through writing directly to them. Most of this is free for me beyond a stamp to the country, though some have a sponsorship fee and perhaps I should try to drop down to mostly free ones. Some organizations provide needed translations so I was happy or I could not write to some countries. Still will feel guilty for dropping a kid! But I know for a fact sponsors come and go all the time, and these organizations know this. The kids still get benefits of the program, just hope they do not feel abandoned by me or anything. Sorry I should add since a kid I planned to adopt overseas but husband later changed his mind and I feel connecting to orphans in this way is meaningful even if I cannot adopt.

 

[Bonnie]

We sponsor a child - she’s our 4th or 5th one. Unfortunately, we’ll have to stop sponsoring after she ages out of the program next year. Our income has shrunk drastically, so we can no longer afford it.

If all your children are in school, perhaps you could volunteer with Catholic Charities or another local project. That takes time & energy, but little or no money. I volunteer once a month for a day-long cat clinic - haven’t got the energy for more than that!

 

[GEddie]

Oh heqq!!!

You can’t take it to Purgatory with you anyhow!

ICXC NIKA