We recently finished 13 weeks of our Financial Peace University Class by Dave Ramsey, held at our church and facilitated by our good friends, Marc and Talisha Taylor. It was many things to us, but the word I can think of that best describes it is that it gave us HOPE. Robb was taught to be a giver, and never really planned for the future. Add to that recipe a very optimistic personality ("next month will be better..."), a risk-taking demeanor (and I realize that some risks are good), almost 6 kids in 10 years and a one-income family, and an economy where work became less profitable, and you can see that we were in need of a financial class!
This class was nothing really profound, just wisdom from God's Word and things your grandma probably did, but such great reminders and lessons for this couple! We have not been able to put everything into practice yet, but are working toward a goal. It is especially exciting to see our kids also practicing these principles and we are excited that they may not have to learn these financial concepts the "hard" way!
Dave Ramsey uses the analogy of taking "Baby Steps" when it comes to financial freedom. With a little one at our house just learning to walk everywhere, I can see how this is a perfect picture of what we are doing with our finances (and really, our walk of faith in general). Some things I have noticed about little Preston's journey are:
- you have to be willing to give up what is comfortable (for him crawling - he was such a FAST crawler) in order to have a better, more secure future
- it is not a fast process...this has taken a couple of weeks of trying to walk a few steps, getting tired, and trying again tomorrow
- there is a lot of falling down
- and there is someone bigger and stronger than you who helps you get back up
- you expand on yesterday's successes...today may be 5 steps; tomorrow may be 10, but progress is being made
- it actually feels good to stretch yourself and learn something new...Preston is never sad when he is walking...just a huge smile on his face
- you need a good support system...In this house there is a lot of cheering from the family every time effort is made!
Every journey begins with a single step. GO PRESTON!!
6 comments:
What an EXCELLENT post, Julie! Really a great analogy, complete with pics!
Good luck in your financial freedom journey...we've been in the "one step forward two steps back" mode of this journey since January. But we're getting there!
I didn't realize that you are at the same church as Marc and Talisha. That's so nice!
Enjoyed this truth...a good way to view our footsteps and more importantly how the Father sees them. Such cute pics of Preston and of all your kids together...sweet.
(Have you ben able to sell the house yet? Blessings on all the financial stuf...it's never easy, is it...)
What a great analogy Julie!!
Thank you for sharing this insight with us!
Marc and Talisha did an excellent job teaching the class, and Duane and I are also taking those baby steps!!
Sojourners together!!
Before reading anyone else's comments they left you on here, as I read your post I kept thinking "wow, what a perfect analogy".
I love Dave Ramsey's books and have read them a couple of times. He has very solid concepts that we have been putting into practice for quite awhile now. Even though at times it gets discouraging (the horrible economy, rising gas prices, people quitting using your business because they can no longer afford it, etc) you also start to really see hope after awhile. Great post!
That's a good way to put it. I really like Dave Ramsey's stuff also. I thank God for life's lessons and for HOPE. Thanks for sharing, many blessings on your financial journey.
We are three weeks from finishing Dave's course. It's been such a help to our family, too!
Missing you all a lot. It was so fun to be with Krys & co. last week but made us wish all the more that we were coming out to see you all too!
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