No More Plastic

My husband and I have been through four weeks of Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. We have worked hard for years, trying to keep our little boat afloat. But poor decisions, bad habits, and lack of knowledge kept us living paycheck to paycheck. We constantly struggled to create more streams of income. Some worked. More didn't.

In the middle of a teaching video, my husband leaned over to me and said, "Hey, when we get home, let's shred our credit cards. What do you think?" It was all I could do to not lose it. I've always hated using credit cards and have longed to get rid of our debt. We have truly joined each other on the same page and have started headlong into our pursuit of that goal.

After class we headed straight for the shredder. In one minute, several year's worth of plastic landed in the bottom of the shredder in tiny little bits. I put them in a small vase and set them at my desk at work.

The most amazing part of the whole experience is what it did to me. I suddenly realized that I had trusted a piece of plastic. I had given over my reliance for provision to strangers I'd never meet face to face.

When we shredded our cards, I realized that we are going to be okay. I had no fear of "not having a credit card for emergencies." I know that Roger and I are united. I know that we work hard, and don't give up. I also know that we are determined to provide for our family and care for one another. And most of all, we trust God to provide, not a piece of plastic. We have a relationship with God, and plastic is not my friend.

Scripture says that the borrow is slave to the lender. I've spent my share of time as a slave, and I'm more than ready to shed the shackles.

So no more plastic at our house. Thank you, Dave Ramsey. And thank you, God, for all of your great provision for us, especially for my husband who has the courage to say, "Shred 'em, Danno."


(c) 2011 Sheri Smith Bertolini