Last year Jason and I voluntarily signed up for an hour and a half of pure torture that actually ended up being four hours. Liars, liars, liars! When you’re approached to sit through a time share spiel let me just save you some trouble. Say no! If that doesn’t work, scream it from the top of your lungs, but do not under any circumstances let them talk you into it. . . . and we did it with four kids!
After we had been there over an hour and the man had talked endlessly about how wonderful the vacations spots were, he asked the question, “Don’t you think that after how hard you work you deserve a vacation every year?”
I thought for a minute and said, “No, I don’t deserve it.”
The man just stared with mouth hanging open. Finally he said that in all his years selling these time shares no one had ever said no! He couldn’t understand it. He wanted to know why I didn’t think I deserved it. I thought for a minute. “It‘s a lesson I‘ve been trying to teach my children,” I told him. “You know, no matter how much we have, there’s always going to be things we don’t have. A person always thinking he deserves more than he has is never happy. We need to learn to live being thankful for what we do have. It is the only way to be content. But I would love to be able to go on a vacation every year!”
He just kept shaking his head. He wondered what church we went to and told us about his experience in churches. We had a very interesting discussion. In the end, I think we made him mad by not buying the time share, and we left feeling kind of bad for him. I have thought about that discussion often since then and marvel that he had never heard anyone say they don’t “deserve” the time share. I think it is sad that so many people live that way . . . or maybe they just don’t want to get stuck talking to the time share guy for four hours. Could be, could be!
Linked today to Raising Homemakers, Tips and Tricks Tuesdays and Miscellany Monday.
Very funny and very true … (Warning: here comes something I’ve learnt). I remember one of our church leaders sharing with me about the fact that when we learn to be content in what we have, but more than that, when we learn to serve others with some of our hard-earned holidays, that we will be more blessed, and feel more refreshed than we could inagine on a “normal” holiday… And I’ve seen that one my many trips into Africa and beyond. Timeshare is simple bondage… and, and, and…
You have really given me something to consider! I think the culture we live in promotes that attitude of “deserving”…and though when I think about it, I agree with you, I definitely have been guilty of telling myself I deserve this or that. Ok, fair to say I want this or that (as you pointed out) but to feel entitled to it? That’s the trouble I suppose. Anyway great post and I appreciate that you truly stop to think for yourself when giving an opinion rather than parroting cliches.
Have a lovely Monday!
Esther — I agree with you 100%. In life — we really don’t deserve anything. That’s my view.
To feel you deserve anything is egocentric. The world does not owe you a fig — you get what you work for. No more, no less.
Wow, Esther, you just always tend to stop me in my tracks. Great answer. Evidence of the Holy Spirit doing some work in your life to be able to come up with that answer on the stop like you did. And to have a heart to teach your children what is best in their walk with God – very convicting. And encouraging.
This is so very true. Otherwise we are always searching for the next big thing, rather than truly appreciating all we have been given. I too find it astonishing that no one had ever said that before, I think it is good that you were able to and explain why. My sister in law and brother in law went to one of those with their four kids and it was during nap time, they said it was miserable!
You handled that so well… you’re a great mom! And, I have been to one of those spiels.. just once… it only takes once! We did not purchase either 🙂
We ended up at one of the spiels by accident last year. Thankfully it was just my husband and I, but we could not wait to get out of there, and told the man over and over (and over and over….) Every now and then we think back to the meeting and we feel sorry for the people who signed up – pure pressure!!
That is so true! (“A person always thinking he deserves more than he has is never happy.”)
We sat through one of those spiels on our honeymoon! At least we got a $50 gift card for it! :O)
Thanks for your post…I am trying to teach my boys that concept, too. The world is such in contrast to the fact that we desire nothing – not even God’s grace. But, that’s what makes it even more amazing that He offers it to us.
Great lesson! I avoid sales people of all kinds, I even run when someone asks if they can help me in a store! I am too easily convinced to part with my money!
My husband and I always end up sitting at those types of presentations too long. I used to do sales so I can appreciate that they are trying to make a living, but I think timeshare salesmen have a special knack in keeping you their forever! I love how you handled it. We live in a quite an entitlement society. I’m also trying to teach my kids that more is not always deserved or better. Janae
We’ve been there, done that, in Williamsburg, VA. It’s sooooo long! Yeah right — an hour and a half! We were alone though, no kids. Maybe our rep would have finished sooner if we had our kids with us, asking, “Is he done yet?” And, “I’m hungry! I have to pee!” We didn’t buy either, and it seemed to make them upset.
This is a hard thing to teach our kids in this society. We certainly don’t hand everything to our kids on a platter, but the entitlement mentality is so prevalent that we are kind of fighting an uphill battle. Good for you for voicing it publicly!
Thanks for linking up 🙂
Ah, yes – we’ve sat through a time share presentation or two and came to the same conclusion you did. Never again – no matter what they offer!! So glad you were able to turn the conversation into one that provoked some deeper thought and shared your great philosophy on the subject!
Boy, do I know what you are talking about. Those turkey’s work you over. If I ever have a moment of STUPIDITY and consent to sitting through another one of those, I am taking my kitchen timer. Here, buddy you’ve got an hour. But, I don’t think I’ll ever get suckered into that again.
Way to stay out of debt. :o)
Cheryl
I just wanted to add, great job saying “NO!” to the timeshare. I am a work from home mom, and I actually spend my time helping timeshare owners get out of those contracts. It is a very tedious and expensive project to get out of one. That is after you spend all the money getting into one. The average cost of a timeshare for a family over a 30 yr period is over $100,000, and that does not include the purchase price. I strongly advise against anyone purchasing a timeshare. Aside from that great blog, I really enjoy your posts, I can relate to a lot of them, as a mother with 5 children.
Oh, thank you! I was having the “deserve” conversation with a couple of ladies from our church just a couple of weeks ago. One was trying to convince the other that she deserved a trip and time off from 4 of her 5 children. I chimed in with she should enjoy it. When questioned why I didn’t think she deserved it, I answered with “well, what I deserve is hell.” The conversation took a turn from there. Now, I pray that God will help me live it when I’m tired of my blessings 🙂
Haha Oh my. I’m also surprised he’d never heard that before. Especially since he’d been to churches for his spiels. My, my.
Well, anyway, good for you!! It’s true, if we think we deserve something better we’ll never be content with what the Lord has already given us. His blessings are more than enough. I hope I can learn to live by that truth as purely as I’ve seen you and your family do it, Aunt Esther! You’re a really great example to me and a major blessing in my life!! Thank you!
I totally agree with you about being grateful. We live in a society where we think we are owed things. We’re not. I loved your answer.