Have you ever had an experience where one phone call changes your life? I call it a miracle, others may call it coincidence or serendipity, but whatever it was, it was amazing.
Yesterday I was ready to throw in the towel. We have been getting more and more medical bills from the last two years and setting up more and more payment plans, and my mom thought we should write out an updated budget so we would know where we were at. I thought that was a great idea, and I got right on it. I called my mom shortly later, sobbing, and explained that as long as I never ate again, never got gas for my car, didn't get my medicine, didn't go to any extra doctor's appointments, etc, we were one thousand dollars short every month.
At the same time, I have been doing a lot of research on becoming an author well known in your field so that you will be booked for speaking engagements, etc. and every single one said you have to invest money. Most said about $25,000! They all recommend getting loans, but I am not willing to go into debt for something that's not a sure thing. I planned to get a savings account and start doing odd jobs and trying to just keep adding it up. But all of a sudden my hopes were lost. I couldn't save money, I was going to have to get at least a half-time job just so I didn't end up on the street.
I was totally hopeless. My suicidal thoughts were worse than they had been in a long time. I called a bankruptcy attorney to see what my options were, and they weren't good. I told my mom I was selling my house and moving in with her. She said absolutely not, that would not go well, we will figure it out. I was sure I had to give up any hope of becoming an author and speaker, but my best friend kept telling me it is God's purpose for you, He will make a way. I couldn't see how I could possibly get out of this mess I cried myself to sleep, but kept waking up because my anxiety was so high.
The next morning, I remembered that my mom had told me to call a hospital in Ohio who had a lot of my debt and said that I qualified for financial aid but had never sent us anything and the creditors kept calling. I gave them a call and she said she would have to look into it and would call me back in ten minutes. Four hours of worrying later, she called me back and let me know that we were being forgiven $20,000 and that they would be sending me a check for over $2,000 that I had unnecessarily paid! What?! Are you kidding me?!
Now I was sobbing with relief. With hope. We are going to be okay without me working for at least several more months, and hopefully I will be feeling much better by then. My best friend said, "See, God has a plan, He just doesn't always show us in advance". I thought, I am SO glad that I didn't kill myself, I have a purpose, a job to do!
Miracles don't always happen. Some times life is really rough, and it looks like there's no way out. But I am so glad I didn't give up, and I am asking you, the next time you are in a seemingly impossible situation, that you remember this story and don't give up either. It's amazing what a difference one day, one phone call can make.
Thanks, Liz
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