We're Debt-Free!

The final months before our lifetime of financial bondage came to an end were like the adrenaline-filled sprinting moments after a tiring race. We found energy and focus that we didn’t know we were capable of. Every extra dollar that we did not need to live went in extra payments toward our final and largest debt. We
went through our home in late autumn and literally stripped pictures off the walls. Our motto was that if we didn’t absolutely need or “love” it—we would sell it. We were reassured in our hearts that we would be able to afford to replace these physical possessions later in God’s timing but nothing could equal the value of “owing no man”.

I made a heart-rending decision to sell scrapbook supplies that I had been holding on to for almost 8 years. By contacting former scrapbooking customers, current dealers and taking part in a scrapbook “yard sale” I was able to liquidate a vast amount of my supply and contribute over $1000 to our goals. It was amazing to me how good it felt afterwards to let go of an item on my to-do list that was weighing me down. De-cluttering will do that.

It was November 23rd, exactly 11 months after our journey began, that we paid the last dollar on the last debt except for our mortgage. We were beyond ecstatic!

I’ll never forget the first few months afterwards. Everything felt new to me. Every day brought an experience that I would compare to a previous one during which we were enslaved to monthly payments and I would rejoice. Our first Christmas…our first vacation…our first anything without debt was better than I could have ever imagined it to be. “I’ve never done this before” became a daily reminder of God’s mercy towards us. Saving up for and paying for things with money we actually had was absolutely novel experience for us.

The intriguing thing about victory is that it has the power to erase much of the agony and tears we experience to gain it. I’m glad we don’t have to live such a spartan lifestyle now, but I would do it again in a heartbeat to achieve the reward of being a free person.

The funny thing is that in all those months of toiling, we never listened to Dave Ramsey’s radio show and thus were unaware that callers are invited to share their success and finish their testimony by yelling in Braveheart fashion “We’re Debt-Free!” I have since been enlightened but by then the moment had passed and we were on to the next Baby Step. I have decided that on the day that my mortgage is paid off, I will definitely make
that call to Dave!

Thank you Jesus for your graciousness and mercy to those who repent of foolishness and follow after wisdom!