I am the helicopter!
Copyright 2018 Bruce S. Herwig
Did you ever need and pray for help and then,
when it arrived, you did not recognize it?
when it arrived, you did not recognize it?
As happens with many seniors in their late 70s and 80s, the expenses needed to just live keep increasing quicker than any increases in Social Security and other income. Even after cutting back to a bare-bones budget, if they are fortunate to own their home, the equity of their home eventually becomes their source of needed funds. Soon there is a second and even a third loan secured by their home, which leads to higher and higher monthly payments. When all that borrowed money is used up, then the credit card balances begin to increase as only minimum monthly payments are made. Eventually, even these minimum payments are not able to be made. This often leads to filing bankruptcy which eliminates all unsecured debt, like credit card debt but not government secured loans, like student loans. Eventually, if they are fortunate, they will move in and live with a child.
Poor health and medical bills compound this. All this relentless financial stress dominates their lives and the joy and hope of a relaxed retirement are replaced with despair and worry and a feeling of hopelessness and guilt.
I received a call in early January 2018 from a real estate agent who told me about George and Rose. They were both in their 80s and had been married 60 years. Unknown to Rose, George had called this agent and shared that they were in financial trouble and had little money. However, he had come up with a plan to solve their financial problems. He asked her if she could prepare some legal documents that would be needed for his plan.
The agent had informed George that she would not prepare these legal documents. However, she knew a real estate attorney who lived in their same senior community who could. She gave George my phone number and called me to let me know about their conversation and that I should expect a call from George. He did call. I made an appointment to meet with them the next day at their home.
As I learned later, George had not told Rose that I was coming until a few minutes before I arrived. During our initial greetings I learned that they were Christians and had been born in Yugoslavia and migrated to the United States arriving with no money, a young child but full of faith and hope. They raised three children and their oldest became a successful and respected surgeon in Oregon. Rose was concerned about the cost of consulting with me as an attorney since they had little money. She was very relieved when I explained that I had a Christian ministry to help seniors and there would be no charge for my time.
George and Rose were not at a final level of stress because their children already helped them financially. However, this was still not enough. George knew if he did not come up with a plan, they soon would be under so much stress their heath would be negatively affected. After telling me his plan, I knew that it was not the most helpful plan. As I began explaining all the reasons this was not the best idea, I had a thought like a ray of sunshine and immediately knew that this was the right plan for them. I announced that I knew what they should do.
I explained this new plan that involved adding their surgeon son as joint tenants with them, with right of survivorship to the deed of the property. I also explained how this plan had none of the negatives of the other plan. It involved using their son’s excellent credit and strong income and their home equity to get a low interest homeowner cash out, 80% consolidation loan to pay off all their debts, while significantly reducing their monthly payments. It would also give them money to save and used as buffer for future needs.
Rose was not convinced. She stated that since all their lives they had tithed (given 10% of all their income) to their church, she asked, “where in this plan is faith in God and His provision, taken into consideration?”
I instantly knew how to answer Rose. I asked if they had ever heard the following story: There was a great flood and many residents had to climb onto the roofs of their homes to escape the rising water. One resident was a devout Christian with great faith in God’s ability to save him from the flood waters. First a man in a rowboat came near and told him to get in. He answered that he trusted God to save him from the flood waters, the man should leave and help someone else. The water kept rising. Then came a motorboat and the driver asked him to get inside. Again, the resident told him that he trusted God to save him from the flood waters and to go and save someone else. The waters kept rising and the resident was now on the very top of his roof. A helicopter came by and a lifejacket on a cable was lowered and he was asked to put it on and be pulled up into the helicopter. Again, the resident waived them off and yelled that he trusted God to save him from the flood waters. A short time later the resident was washed off his roof and drowned. When he arrived in heaven, he asked God how could he have drowned when he had such great faith that God would save him. God answered him, “I did honor your faith in me. First, I sent you a rowboat, but you refused to be saved. Then I sent you a motorboat, but you again refused to be saved. Then, I sent you a helicopter, but you also refused that provision too.”
Rose said that she had heard that story before. I asked her if she and George had been praying for God’s answer to their financial dilemma. When they both answered “Yes.”, I looked directly at Rose and announced with sincere conviction, “I am the helicopter sent by God as an answer to your prayers!” She continued to look at me and slowly acknowledged that she understood. We ended our time with prayer and with new hope. As I was leaving, I told them I would send them an e-mail explaining both plans and their negatives and positives. They would then send this e-mail on to their son, the surgeon, and ask him to call me.
A few days later I spoke to their son and he agreed with my plan and promised that he would immediately notify his parents that he would go along with this plan and he would provide help to relieve his parent’s financial stress, until the total plan was complete. I explained that my plan would also include him in any future dealings with their home, so he could wisely help and guide his parents. George and Rose’s future retirement can now become one of rest instead of stress.
God does answer prayers, but not always how we expect.
POINTS TO PONDER:
Imagine being in your 80’s and in your retirement years with a very bleak and stressful financial future. Too many retirees already are or will face this situation.
Can you be a “helicopter” to others that are down and out financially?
ACTION POINTS:
Generously give to local food banks for the poor and to the Salvation Army and thus help many retirees who depend on these organizations to help them with food, shelter and clothing.
Share this God Story with your parents and grandparents, brothers and sisters. Have a serious family talk with all of them about their finances and their retirement years. Make a commitment to your parents and grandparents that you will be there to help and stand by them as they age.
SCRIPTURE:
Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Genesis 20:12 (NIV)
Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8 (NIV)
A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. Proverbs 3:27-28 (NIV
Poor health and medical bills compound this. All this relentless financial stress dominates their lives and the joy and hope of a relaxed retirement are replaced with despair and worry and a feeling of hopelessness and guilt.
I received a call in early January 2018 from a real estate agent who told me about George and Rose. They were both in their 80s and had been married 60 years. Unknown to Rose, George had called this agent and shared that they were in financial trouble and had little money. However, he had come up with a plan to solve their financial problems. He asked her if she could prepare some legal documents that would be needed for his plan.
The agent had informed George that she would not prepare these legal documents. However, she knew a real estate attorney who lived in their same senior community who could. She gave George my phone number and called me to let me know about their conversation and that I should expect a call from George. He did call. I made an appointment to meet with them the next day at their home.
As I learned later, George had not told Rose that I was coming until a few minutes before I arrived. During our initial greetings I learned that they were Christians and had been born in Yugoslavia and migrated to the United States arriving with no money, a young child but full of faith and hope. They raised three children and their oldest became a successful and respected surgeon in Oregon. Rose was concerned about the cost of consulting with me as an attorney since they had little money. She was very relieved when I explained that I had a Christian ministry to help seniors and there would be no charge for my time.
George and Rose were not at a final level of stress because their children already helped them financially. However, this was still not enough. George knew if he did not come up with a plan, they soon would be under so much stress their heath would be negatively affected. After telling me his plan, I knew that it was not the most helpful plan. As I began explaining all the reasons this was not the best idea, I had a thought like a ray of sunshine and immediately knew that this was the right plan for them. I announced that I knew what they should do.
I explained this new plan that involved adding their surgeon son as joint tenants with them, with right of survivorship to the deed of the property. I also explained how this plan had none of the negatives of the other plan. It involved using their son’s excellent credit and strong income and their home equity to get a low interest homeowner cash out, 80% consolidation loan to pay off all their debts, while significantly reducing their monthly payments. It would also give them money to save and used as buffer for future needs.
Rose was not convinced. She stated that since all their lives they had tithed (given 10% of all their income) to their church, she asked, “where in this plan is faith in God and His provision, taken into consideration?”
I instantly knew how to answer Rose. I asked if they had ever heard the following story: There was a great flood and many residents had to climb onto the roofs of their homes to escape the rising water. One resident was a devout Christian with great faith in God’s ability to save him from the flood waters. First a man in a rowboat came near and told him to get in. He answered that he trusted God to save him from the flood waters, the man should leave and help someone else. The water kept rising. Then came a motorboat and the driver asked him to get inside. Again, the resident told him that he trusted God to save him from the flood waters and to go and save someone else. The waters kept rising and the resident was now on the very top of his roof. A helicopter came by and a lifejacket on a cable was lowered and he was asked to put it on and be pulled up into the helicopter. Again, the resident waived them off and yelled that he trusted God to save him from the flood waters. A short time later the resident was washed off his roof and drowned. When he arrived in heaven, he asked God how could he have drowned when he had such great faith that God would save him. God answered him, “I did honor your faith in me. First, I sent you a rowboat, but you refused to be saved. Then I sent you a motorboat, but you again refused to be saved. Then, I sent you a helicopter, but you also refused that provision too.”
Rose said that she had heard that story before. I asked her if she and George had been praying for God’s answer to their financial dilemma. When they both answered “Yes.”, I looked directly at Rose and announced with sincere conviction, “I am the helicopter sent by God as an answer to your prayers!” She continued to look at me and slowly acknowledged that she understood. We ended our time with prayer and with new hope. As I was leaving, I told them I would send them an e-mail explaining both plans and their negatives and positives. They would then send this e-mail on to their son, the surgeon, and ask him to call me.
A few days later I spoke to their son and he agreed with my plan and promised that he would immediately notify his parents that he would go along with this plan and he would provide help to relieve his parent’s financial stress, until the total plan was complete. I explained that my plan would also include him in any future dealings with their home, so he could wisely help and guide his parents. George and Rose’s future retirement can now become one of rest instead of stress.
God does answer prayers, but not always how we expect.
POINTS TO PONDER:
Imagine being in your 80’s and in your retirement years with a very bleak and stressful financial future. Too many retirees already are or will face this situation.
Can you be a “helicopter” to others that are down and out financially?
ACTION POINTS:
Generously give to local food banks for the poor and to the Salvation Army and thus help many retirees who depend on these organizations to help them with food, shelter and clothing.
Share this God Story with your parents and grandparents, brothers and sisters. Have a serious family talk with all of them about their finances and their retirement years. Make a commitment to your parents and grandparents that you will be there to help and stand by them as they age.
SCRIPTURE:
Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Genesis 20:12 (NIV)
Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8 (NIV)
A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. Proverbs 3:27-28 (NIV
