Provision or Neglect?

I can't tell you how many times Martha and I have heard this one phrase in a marriage mentoring session.  "I work hard so my family can have the things I didn't have when I was a kid."  That's all fine and dandy, but usually, we are given that excuse after the spouse feels neglected.  That usually spurns a conversation about not feeling appreciated for how hard one spouse works.  It creates an argument about all of the stuff they own, which causes them to work so hard to pay for the stuff they own.  It's all a vicious circle.  You don't need to create a fairytale experience for your children.  They just want you.  They don't care about all the stuff.  Take a step back today and see if your work is hurting the very ones you want to provide for.