The Power of Receiving: How a Corvette and a Debt-Free Life Taught Me to Embrace Blessings

Introduction: Giving vs. Receiving
Is it easier for you to give than to receive? It’s something I’ve struggled with for most of my life. And, oddly enough, winning a 2019 Corvette Stingray became part of my journey to learning how to receive. Let me share my story of how a luxury car became a lesson in worthiness, faith, and the importance of embracing blessings.

1. A Legacy of Hard Work

For generations, my family has worked tirelessly—literally from sunup to sundown. From farming in Russia to the hard labor of hauling grain, I grew up with a strong work ethic. I’ve done it all: scythed hay, hauled grain by hand, and even drove semi-trucks by age 13. It was in my blood to work hard, but looking back, I see how I was often driven by the need to “do it all” myself.

2. The “I Can Do It Myself” Mindset

“I can do it myself” is an accusation I’ve carried for years. It’s a mindset that tells you to push through, not ask for help, and never accept anything you haven’t “earned.” And while I thought it made me invincible, it really just built up walls around me. Over time, I began to realize that this wasn’t God’s plan for me. There’s a better way to do business, life, and even receive blessings.

3. Marriage, Debt, and Sacrifice: A Lesson in Humility

When I married my husband, we took on a significant amount of debt from his previous relationship. We didn’t hesitate. We dove in together, sold everything we owned, and sacrificed much to help pay off the debt. It wasn’t easy—there was no dining out, no vacations, and only an older car to share for over a year. But we made a choice to pray for the company we owed money to, asking for blessings on them.

We didn’t know what the future held, but we remained faithful, year after year, until the debt was paid off. Despite the hardship, we found comfort in our faith and in each other. And soon, the lessons of humility would be rewarded.

4. Receiving the Blessing: The Corvette

One day, after months of prayer and sacrifice, I felt a Still Small Voice prompt me to invest in a luxury home package. I didn’t expect much, but a few months later, we received the call that we had won a 2019 Corvette Stingray. It was surreal. But the feelings of guilt I had for receiving such a luxury were overwhelming. I feared judgment for accepting something so nice when we were in the midst of paying off debt.

The truth? I didn’t enjoy driving the car. It felt wrong to receive something without feeling I’d worked hard enough for it. But it was God’s way of showing me that blessings can come when we least expect them—and even when we don’t feel we deserve them.

5. Rejecting Blessings: A Cycle of Unworthiness

This experience made me wonder how many blessings I had rejected in my life because I felt unworthy or guilty for receiving them. For years, I had operated on the belief that good things only came from hard work. And while hard work is valuable, it’s not the only way to receive blessings. What if, instead of pushing blessings away, we opened our hearts to receive them with gratitude?

6. The Scythe in Your Life: What’s Holding You Back?

For generations, my family taught me that hard work was the only way to achieve anything. This mindset became my “scythe,” a tool I couldn’t put down. But just like the generations before me who used the scythe to cut hay, it was a mindset I had to learn to release.

What’s the “scythe” in your life—the way of thinking that’s holding you back from receiving? It’s time to let go of the belief that you must struggle to deserve a blessing. There is a better way.

7. The Power of Relationships and Receiving

When I bought that luxury home package, it was inspired by a conversation I had with a woman I was in relationship with. She laughed when my husband said, “People who follow God don’t buy lottery tickets.” That simple statement made me pause. The next day, I listened to God’s prompt and made the purchase.

This is what I’ve learned: the people in your life, who love and serve others, are often the ones who will help you see the blessings that are waiting for you. They are the unsung heroes—those who give quietly and celebrate others’ success. These are the people who will help you find your way to a life of blessings.

8. Gratitude and Less Work: The Key to Receiving

As a consultant, I once earned $14,000 for just two days of work, and it wasn’t from social media or marketing myself. I had to learn to let go of the guilt for receiving such blessings. The truth is, we are often blessed when we can receive without expectation and with an open heart of gratitude.

Gratitude isn’t just about saying “thank you.” It’s about being humble and acknowledging that everything we have comes from God. It’s about celebrating the success of others and realizing there is more to life than simply accumulating wealth.

9. The Bigger Picture: A Debt-Free Life and New Opportunities

When we finally paid off the debt, I learned a valuable lesson: receiving doesn’t diminish your worth. In fact, it can lead to unexpected blessings. With the sale of the Corvette, we were able to make a dent in our debt. But God had even more in store—God led me to learn how to buy and sell luxury properties, opening up a whole new world of opportunity.

This story is more than just about a car. It’s about learning to embrace the blessings we don’t always feel we deserve, and the unexpected ways God works in our lives.

Conclusion: Embrace the Blessings

So, look for the people who share your vision and are waiting to bless you. They are everywhere, in all walks of life, and often they don’t expect anything in return. The key is to be open, grateful, and willing to receive, even when you feel unworthy.

Remember: life doesn’t have to be hard. You don’t have to work yourself to the bone to deserve blessings. Receive them with gratitude, and you’ll be amazed at how God works in your life.