|
If there ever were two angels on earth,
I am proud to say they are mine. In a world full of
negativity, crime and merciless people, I am lucky enough to
say my angels surround me daily to bring me strength and the
hope to know there is still good in the world. These people
are two normal people that one would see on the street,
pass, and not look twice, but to me, when I look at them, I
see wings and halos…
I met Marlene about four years ago,
when I worked as a receptionist at a doctor’s office. She
came in once a week to help with the bookkeeping. We
instantly bonded, and soon, we were calling each other
sisters and sharing intimate secrets over bagels and coffee
first thing in the morning. Jerry, her husband, became a
patient at the office, and after our first meeting, I felt
as though I had known him my whole life, just as I did,
Marlene.
A year passed and Marlene was told she
was “no longer needed” at the office and was let go. I was
truly saddened and missed her so much, as I had always
looked forward to that one day a week I knew she was coming.
However, after she left, we continued to talk on the phone
and see each other. We still remained like sisters to each
other, as the bond could never be broken, no matter what.
Two years later, I decided I needed to
leave the doctor’s office, as it was becoming an unhealthy
environment for me to work. Jerry owned his own Paper
Company, and Marlene worked there as the office manager. As
fate would have it, Marlene called me one day and told me
she needed a receptionist and wanted to know if I was
interested. The timing could not have been better, and after
giving notice at the doctor’s office, the rest was history!
How wonderful it was to be able to work with Marlene every
day, as compared to the once a week I had known in the past.
I instantly felt at home there and it was such a peaceful
and content feeling, one I was not used to at the doctor’s
office.
I had been at the paper company for six
months, when I arrived one morning upset. Sadly, I had been
struggling with finances ever since I got my first job at
sixteen. I never knew how to manage or save my money, and
over the years, I had gotten myself into credit card debt to
the tune of $25,000 dollars. To be 36 years old, and in that
kind of debt, was a crime. Since Marlene knew me inside and
out, she instantly sensed something was wrong. I told her I
was feeling distressed because of my financial situation,
and I was at the point where I was literally fanning out my
bills, picking one at random to pay for that month, and
leaving the others to sit and collect late fees. Marlene
simply said, “Well, we are just going to have to do
something about that” and left it at that. I had no idea
that what she said, she truly meant.
The next morning, Marlene, Jerry and I
had a talk. They presented me with a check for half of my
debt to pay most of my credit cards, and then the others
would be easier and faster to finish paying. They told me I
would pay them back, interest free, once I was completely
out of debt, which thanks to them would take four or five
years, as opposed to the thirty to life it would have taken
me on my own! I did not know how to thank them and words
could not do justice. I immediately deposited the check and
paid, in full, five out of eight credit cards I had. Over
the next three months, I would see a dramatic drop of my
debt in the three cards that were still outstanding. I made
a vow to Marlene and Jerry, and especially to myself, that I
would no longer use my credit cards and I cut them all into
tiny pieces. I was on the right path and anticipated being
debt free.
Jerry took over as my “financial
advisor” and truly took me under his wing. Once a month, he
sat down with me and looked at my statements, advising me
how much to pay based on my budget for the month. He helped
me to learn the value of a dollar and put me on a strict
budget. He always said over and over that he just wanted to
see me get healthy. Jerry is one of the busiest people I
have ever come to know, managing his own company, and the
fact that he took the time to sit with me, sometimes for
over a half hour, was simply overwhelming.
One month, all my statements had
arrived and it was getting close to their due dates. Jerry
and I still had not had our usual monthly meeting and I
started to panic. I did not want to bother him, since I knew
his time was precious, so I left my statements in an
envelope for him and hoped he would have time to review them
on his own. Two days had passed, after I had left the
envelope, and he did not say anything to me, which I found
odd, but still, never wanted to interfere with his time, so
I kept quiet.
The next day, Jerry took me by the arm,
while Marlene followed and they pulled me into a back office
and closed the door. Tears welled up in Marlene’s eyes as
she told me she and Jerry looked at my statements together,
and when she saw the amount of interest I was paying, she
was in disbelief! She then said she was giving me more
money, enough to pay the remaining cards off in full, and I
would be credit card debt free. She said I would then be
able to start paying her and Jerry back, and in four or five
years, be completely finished of any money I owed. I
listened to what she was saying, but truly thought I was
having a dream and was going to wake up. Who would do that
for someone? I could only keep asking “why?”, but I realized
they did not even have to answer, as I knew it was because
they were my angels here on earth and were put here to help
me.
My life is changed. I feel so free to
not have the burden of all those credit cards. I never
thought I would see the day where I would have a zero
balance on any of them, and now they are all paid in full.
So many possibilities will be opened up to me now, ones that
could never have been imagined while I was in that kind of
debt.
I do not know how to appropriately show
my gratitude to Marlene and Jerry for what they have done
for me. Thank you is an understatement, and honestly, how do
you really thank someone for changing your life like that?
They are, truly, the most genuine, kind hearted, giving and
generous people I have ever come to know, and they never
once ask for anything in return. They are two gems and I am
more than honored to have them in my life. I will treasure
them for eternity.
This story is my dedication to them, my
two angels on earth, and I hope it will help let them know
how much they mean to me. They have saved me, and for that,
there can be no repayment, but they do have a piece of my
heart and are etched in my soul forever.
I truly believe angels surround all of
us, some we can see and others we can not. When you feel
there is no hope, your angels will bring it to you.
Angels care, angels love, angels bring hope from up above;
Angels grant, angels guard, angels help make life less hard;
Angels fly, angels soar, angels never part; Angels live,
angels love and live within your heart…
God bless my angels, Marlene and
Jerry, I love you. |
