Thankful Thursday
I don’t know about you, but I love a feel good story, especially one that is faith building. I have that for you today.
It’s been two years since my accident and during this time, the doctor bills, tests, MRI’s, medications and other things that went along with the car accident have added up. It’s been faith building every single time I got a bill (and boy, they were not cheap) and had to dip into savings and get additional credit cards. During all of this, I had to cut back my hours drastically for health reasons and the credit card bills got higher and higher and the savings got lower and lower. If I had to pick a word to describe all of this, it would be defeated. Every time I felt almost “caught up” on bills, a new one would come, or I would have to get more tests done that basically said “You are healthy”. That’s a whole other story though…
A month after my accident, I had to have several MRI’s done for my neck, back and brain and those are pricey. With the six days a week of chiropractic care in addition to the doctor visits, massage therapy, etc., the PIP from insurance got depleted far before the bills stopped coming. Let me tell you, the initial bill from those MRI’s could feed a small village. It was so hard to be in a place where I knew I had this bill looming over me and I would get “reminder bills” in the mail every few months, but knowing I couldn’t pay it all.
Okay, now fast forward two years.
I got a call from the MRI people yesterday saying this was the last call before it went to collections. Despite the attempts to work something out with them, I had to somehow figure out a way to pay them all of it. As I was talking with the gal, trying to see what we could do, she calculates numbers, I talk to her and then she says “Let me see if I can get this cut down to half for you.” What? We tried calling two weeks ago to work something out (they wouldn’t budge) and now this? Not to mention that she said her boss NEVER gives approval for a cut this large.
I had been praying the whole two years that somehow, someway it could get cut in half. Could this really happen?
Yes. It. Did.
I have to say I almost started crying when the phone call concluded. No more agonizing over getting this daunting bill paid. No more happy days crushed when I get a statement from them about this past due bill. No more freaking out about paying the biggest bill I have ever had in my life.
God is so good. He knew that deep in my heart I was hoping and praying this would happen. He knew that the last few months have been extremely hard and I needed to know that He still cares about me. I admit, my faith meter felt empty and I needed some sort of sign and here it was.
I felt the need to share this story in a post. Partly because it’s part of the car accident story, but I also felt like some of you are going through some deep valleys, or are feeling alone, and needed to hear something uplifting. It’s a miracle itself that I walked away from the accident, it’s a miracle that I’m still alive and here is yet another miracle to add to the ever-growing list. Miracles happen.
Do you have a miraculous story to share, or are you thankful for something today? Leave a comment- I would love to read your stories and I know others will be encouraged by it as well!
Thank you for your openness and inspiring words. God is good! May he continue to bless you and bring healing to your body. I appreciate your blog and your beautiful products/projects. You are always so perky on your videos!
That is so great to read. I’m in hefty student loan debt, so I know the feeling of that spiraling debt tornado. They have no idea how much that concession probably just helped you, even though it probably didn’t even make a dent in their profit. That’s part of the reason I hate the American medical system so much; it’s set up for massive profits rather than being a benevolent system that cares first and profits second. I don’t have a story I want to share right now, but I was so glad to read you had a happy day with this happening for you, I wanted to leave a comment of love! <3
I do have many things I am personally thankful for but this morning your story brought tears to my eyes and I said a prayer of thanks that you were taken care of and for the many miracles that are bestowed upon us everyday…great and small. :D
Fabulous answer to prayer. God is so Good!
I was sick for awhile and the MRI bills are expensive, so you are very lucky!!! Remember to pay it forward in any way you can! :) BTW, I love your work and your site, keep it up!
What a wonderful story to read this morning. I am so inspired by your ability to look at the silver lining and hope that many more miracles come your way! I hope you have many good days and that one day wake up and are fully recovered! Best wishes!!
Rejoicing with you! He is faithful, His timing perfect!!
I’m touched by your words today Paulina. Here’s my miracle story. Nearly 20 years ago, I made the painful decision to give my unborn baby up for adoption. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do and my grief and loss stayed as my constant companion for those 20 years. I had hoped and prayed that one day my daughter and I would be reunited.
Well, it finally happened. My daughter reached out last month and was able to find me. This was a closed adoption so I truly believe it was a miracle that she was able to find me. We met and it was a glorious weekend. This was the biggest miracle I’ve seen in my life. I spent so many years trying to cope with my pain and loss and was really at my wits end so to have this outcome was so wonderful.
I’m so glad that you got your miracle, just as I am glad for the miracle in my life. Thanks again for opening up and sharing a bit of you.
What a cool story, Paulina! So glad that your financial situation has gotten at least a bit better. I know that is a weight off your mind. Thanks so much for sharing this uplifting story. You just made my day a little better! Take care, and hope you have a wonderful day!
I’m so happy for you Paulina. I can’t think of a person more deserving of a miracle!
This gave me goosebumps. I am lucky to be fortunate and not have any crises or debt lingering except for what we just paid for our daughter’s wedding. Luckily we had that budgeted.
I follow u on IG & thought I’d come over to read your story of faith. That’s a nice story And I’m sooo happy for u. God is good all the time and it’s super important to keep your faith even when times are hard. I have to tell myself that often. Times are hard my student loans take up a bunch of my check every month. Soo I totally understand and if feels like it will never no way. Then a lil over a yr ago I got into a car accident, thankfully my insurance covered my medical bills, but recently my back and neck pains have gotten wrost, but I don’t want to go back to the Chiropactor cause I know I won’t be able to afford the the bills. However I didn’t have a car for a while due to the accident and the lil car I got after the accident ended up having to be junked in just a few months. This whole experience has humble me. God worked out a way for me to get back into a car and it was perfect timing cause hubby’s car got marked totaled in a bad rain strom. BUT I will not lose my faith. God finds a way for me to be able to cover my bills and I know better days will come soon. The strom doesn’t last forever. I just have to trust him cause he will always take care of us.
Thanks for your inspirational story.
Thank you for your inspiring story. God is good and right now I’m in a deep, deep valley with many medical issues, bills and a lot of we don’t see any thing wrong after every test. I must believe every day that God is good he is by my side every day and some days there are only one set of foot prints in the sand!
God bless you and yours every day and praise God for your miracle, I hope they continue to increase each day.
so happy this got resolved for you!!!
Faith can move mountains! I know that some might say it was just fate or inevitable, but I think it’s wonderful that you’re giving God the glory for the lifting of that burden! I’m glad you had the faith to keep on praying so that he would know you were trusting in his power and grace.
And personally, I would like to know when you’re having these struggles so that I can pray, too, because I believe that you would have felt all those prayers and it may have helped you feel less burdened. Just a thought.
Take care and I’m thankful for all you share in so many different ways!
Hi Paulina! I love hearing about your day to day events. Sometimes small, sometimes big. I can totally relate to being in debt. I work in a doctor’s office where there are 6 doctors. The head doctor who owns the clinic and his wife the office manager pay my salary. For over 4 years now I have not had any raise and the bills get bigger, but my paycheck doesn’t keep up with even the cost of living. Every time my husband and I feel that we are starting to see the light of day something else happens to take that money that was to help pay off our bills. We have continually prayed and asked the Lord to show us how to get back on track, and I know He is there though sometimes it doesn’t feel like it. I have good days about my debts and not so good, but I do try to remind myself not the wallow in self pity, which for me can be very hard to do. I just thank and praise the Lord that he helped you out with your MRI bill. That is one thing I have been glad I don’t have to pay for, (as I live in Canada and my province does allow coverage to a degree). Keep on uplifting me and many of the others that read about you the living everyday you. I have been praying and continue to pray for you, your finances and your health. May you be richly blessed. Sincerely, Lynn F. :)
Been down to that point more than once myself and know keeping the faith works. I am 69 and had my children when I was young so I could be a young grandmother. My daughter married late and went through lots of pain and agony trying to conceive. Finally we all gave up that dream. Saturday I was informed she is almost 4 months pregnant. Although it is a high risk pregnancy we are all delighted that God has given us this gift. It was so uplifting to read your story.
Hi, Paulina, Thank you for sharing your miracle story, especially today. I have had a heavy heart all day, thinking back 13 years. I am so glad you received such a needed and amazing blessing. With this debt dissolved, I am sure you are going to experience a huge drop in your stress which will truly make you feel better. Your friend, Kym
Very happy for you.
What I’m thankful for. My Mom had her endocrine tumors removed yesterday and the surgery went very well. She is now cancer free and will no longer need daily shots or any kind of chemo or radiation. (She had NETS a rare form of cancer.)
It was major surgery so her recovery will take 6 to 8 weeks. But I feel the recovery period
is a great trade off for being cancer free.
Thanks for sharing your uplifting story Paulina. Sometimes it is hard to see the miracles when we are so oppressed with trying to cope with medical issues and bills. God is good. His love is enduring. Sweet miracles happen every day if we keep looking for them.
I am blessed that I have a job that has Long Term Disability, as I have been unable to work for almost 5 years due to chronic pain and other health issues. I understand how difficult it is to deal with the real stressors of getting up every day when you feel so horrid, and then having the added stress of bill reminders and looming payments. So often big business forgets that they are dealing with real people, instead of a number on a file.
I am so grateful that you found a compassionate person to listen and help you deal with this situation. God answers every prayer — not always in the way we want or expect — but in HIs way and time.
May God continue to bless you and may you continue to heal.
Paulina, thank you for sharing your story…I am so happy to hear that God has answered your prayer in that miraculous, mind-blowing way of His…My husband and I have also been put on a journey of great change. My hubby got a foot infection in June and we are still dealing with it into September…we lost our jobs and are looking at our life changing before our eyes. We are in our 70’s, and money is really scarce. But we KNOW our GOD IS FAITHFUL TO HIS PROMISES AND HE PROMISES TO TAKE CARE OF US TO THE END!!! YAY!!! Every day we see His Hand at work in the small things and the big things…and IT WILL BE OK!!!
God bless you as you walk on in the journey He has for you!
God is Awesome!
So happy for you!
Paulina, Thanks for sharing your story. Its incredible how goodness of God surrounds us just when we think we are ready to give up. Praise God for being so good to you.
Thank you so much for sharing this story of faith. I am so happy that God answered your prayers and has brought you some comfort and happiness in this difficult time I do not have such a dramatic story…I think God works in big ways like yours but also small ways each and every day. I remember a very tough year of teaching in which I wanted to quit and just leave teaching but after persevering through it with His Grace I am so thankful I went through that…it taught me so much and it has made me stronger. Its hard to understand why we are faced with challenges but sometimes we just need to soldier on through it and then later ,sometimes much later, things becomes clearer. Keeping you in my prayers Paulina!
That is so awesome and a wonderful blessing! I am so happy for you and praying my time will come soon when I hear the news of lowered medical expenses :) My entire household has health issues so we are constantly paying out medical bills but mine consume the most and it totally stinks having your family go without things all because of you :( I am so blessed that my husband still manages to stash a little bit of fun money so I can occasionally buy some crafty items. He knows its my only form of fun and stress relief as well as something my daughter and I bond over. So a cut in medical bills would truly be a gift from God for us. It warms my heart when I hear others receiving wonderful blessings from the Lord and that they are able to share in testament of what an amazing God we have :)
Thank you Paulina for sharing you’re story. I am so happy to hear you’re prayers were answered. It is so true that faith can move mountains. I have been in many dark valleys and God has brought me through them each time. I always say keep you’re faith strong and even stronger at the worst of times. I look back on my life and see how many times God has gotten me though bad financial, medical, family difficult trials and loss.
Someone told me once while I was going though kemo, You are God’s daughter and he loves you. Just that sentence got me through hard times.
It must of been so difficult for you to have that stress of the worry of you’re financial situation, while trying to recover. God Bless you. May you’re life continue to get better each day.
God Bless.
Oh, this is fabulous, Pauline! Thanks so much for sharing this! I’m so happy that God answered this prayer for you — He is so good!
Great story of gods provision and waiting on His perfect timimg. Thanks for sharing.