To Read on the Journey

Sunday, August 24, 2008

into debt and out of debt- part 2

we had to get out of it...

it started first with a conversation with a trustworthy friend. i confessed our circumstances to her, the financial bind we were in, the burden it was on our lives, not just financially, but emotionally and spiritually as well.

a few days later she phoned me, she and her husband had discussed and prayed over our situation, and God led them to help us. They were lead to give us a $100.00 a month until we were out of debt. you have to know this young family isn't rolling in it, but God had been gracious to them in a time of financial struggle, and they were "paying it forward."
we added that 100.00 to our payments, and the clouds started to break a little.

a few weeks later, during the a summer evening of 2002, michael's parents were over for dinner. they had recently completed a loft above their house to live in during the summer when they rent out their house. they shared that they were planning on living in it for the off season. somewhere in the middle of our conversation michael's mother kiddingly (i think) mentioned that we could live in the house for the off season.
after that my mind started reeling, and in hind-sight i know that the Holy Spirit was stirring up change.

there were many "buts" for me to consider- we lived in a great 4 bedroom, 3 bath house in bass lake which we rented for only 650.00 a month (new carpet, we could paint, and the land-lord was exceptional), this house was truly a God-send (that is a great story), we feared leaping out of it into the unknown future. we had recently painted the nursery for (at that time, 7 month old) josie, we had envisioned us rocking another child to sleep in that room, seeing another child take their first steps in the home that welcomed our babies. finally, we had wonderful neighbors, and a great community for our young family. we didn't want to move. we LOVED our home.

and then there were the friends who were committed to the 100.00 a month until we were debt free. if we stayed in our home they would be sacrificing that to us for a few years. if we moved we would have rent and utility free living for 9 months. a guaranteed way to get out of debt, fast. beginning to see light, and hope for our financial future we took a leap of faith and moved into the in-laws in sept. of 2002.

getting out of financial debt was easier than we had hoped, but would getting out of emotional debt be harder?

4 comments:

BethAnne said...

Emotional debt? Always harder.

Shirin said...

ooohhh! I'm betting there's a part 3! Can hardly wait to hear it. I'm listening...

nancygrayce said...

What a wonderful story! I love that verse that says let no debt remain except the continuing debt to love one another.....that may not be totally 100% quoted correctly! It sounds like that couple and your in-laws understand that! Just wandered by, glad to meet you!

Kristen said...

what a blessing to have friends who would help you out of your financial situation - and in laws to offer up a rent free house.

going up to the page to read part 3!