Tripping Over Typeset

Well, we’ve done it!  Today we are officially debt-free!

In September of 2008, we were introduced to Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University.  What an eye opening, life changing experience!

We made the commitment at that time to begin the journey of baby steps towards living debt-free.  Today we have done it!  We’ve paid off that final loan!

There’s an elation inside that’s a bit hard to explain!  A load has been lifted.  I no longer OWE!  I feel like yelling, as Mel Gibson in Brave Heart…“FREEDOM!!!!”

I have this little quirkyness where I feel it’s a complete day when I arrive at the end and can say, “I learned something new today!”  And today it happened early…

Dave and I were just discussing plans for the day…exciting as it already was…and he said, “Well, if I had my druthers I would take you all out to Olive Garden for lunch!”

Druthers???  What is that?   Anyone know?  Well, I do now!

Druthers – one’s own way, choice, or preference.

Which got me thinking….druthers….one’s own way…a choice…

It just didn’t happen that we became debt-free.  No one came by the house and gave us a check to cover our debts.  A boat load of money didn’t drop from the sky…but it was our druthers!  Our own way, our own choices…day in and day out!

Choosing to drive past a restaurant even though we were hungry and instead, drive home and eat leftovers because that food was already paid for and in the fridge!

Choosing to only buy something if we had the cash to pay for it.  Choosing to cut up the credit cards and not use them again!

Choosing to honor God with our finances and finding Him faithful again and again.

Choosing for our own way to line up with His way.  Choosing one’s own way…druthers!

No more credit card, car loan, or student loan…now it’s only one debt – The Debt of Love. 

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.  ~Romans 13:8

What an amazing feeling of freedom ~being financially debt-free.  But what an even greater freedom of knowing spiritual freedom and forgiveness!

Forgiven – to cancel an indebtedness or liability of;  to release

Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus, the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.  Through Him everyone who believes is set free from every sin… ~Acts 13:38-39

We are free from the guilt and sin which kept us from Him and now we live debt-free!  Free from sin and free to forgive…for us to free others…

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  ~Colossians 3:13

In our forgiveness towards others we face a similar choosing…our druthers…Our day in/day out choice to forgive…

To forgive the one who cut you off in traffic…to forgive the unkind remark spoken by a coworker…to forgive (fill in the blank)…to forgive.

We choose to forgive, to release — or we choose to hold the debt because we feel someone owes us something.

It’s our druthers, our own choosing.

But I should let you know, in choosing unforgiveness, we hold ourselves hostage, we make our own selves bankrupt.  Holding on to unforgiveness builds resentment; allows bitterness to take root and we find ourselves in debt instead of free.

Forgiveness is a releasing, a letting go.  When we choose to forgive, we find freedom!

It’s a NEW day!  Make this a new day for you!   Choose…have your druthers…find forgiveness, give forgiveness…FORGIVE and be set free!