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In February 1998, I had to make my final tuition payment to the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics. My decision to study Massage Therapy happened in an unusual way. I had become fascinated with Metaphysics and was reading a lot of books on energy, in particular Reiki.

I was in a Reiki Level One class when another student casually stated, “You can get more clients for Reiki if you combine it with massage.” I had never considered being a massage therapist. But that day, something just clicked. I knew my path. I enrolled at the massage school the very next week. I loved this school and enjoyed studying massage, essential oils, anatomy and physiology, Polarity, and nutrition. I only missed one class of the full year program when Santa Fe experienced a major snowstorm, and I was unable to make the hour drive to Albuquerque.

At the time, the full program was 5000 dollars, and I had to pay the first half of tuition when I enrolled. The second half was due midway through the course. No problem, I imagined as I eagerly made the first payment that depleted my checking account. I was sure I would have the money for the second payment available before it came due. I had been working as an assistant manager of a local bookstore for about a year and believed that if I wasn’t frivolous, I would be able to save up 2500 dollars.

But it didn’t happen that way. Two weeks before the payment was due, I was frantically trying to scrape together the tuition money. Even with living frugally, I was still supporting myself paycheck to paycheck. I was living on my own in New Mexico while my family still resided in Kansas City, Kansas. I didn’t want to turn to my family for help. I had been determined to make it on my own. I tried everything I could think of to get the money I needed. The independent school did not offer any financial aid, so I tried to get a loan on my own at a local bank. The bank officials refused to loan me the 2500 dollars. I had no collateral. I tried to get a cash withdrawal from my credit cards but the interest rates and processing fees were astronomical and would have put me even further into debt.

Not seeing any other option, I finally called my mother. I choked on my pride for a moment as I told Mom about the situation. I wasn’t sure she would help me. She didn’t like the idea that I was studying massage therapy. Mom was positive that this work would lead me into all kinds of unsavory situations. She even told me during an earlier conversation, “I told everyone that you’re doing physical therapy…umm, don’t mention massage.” My mother believed that she was protecting me from negative thoughts.  Honestly, my mother was horrified that I was interested in massage. I told Mom now that I needed money for my tuition, and her only response after sighing deeply was, “Let me ask your dad.”

I was terrified. I never had a good relationship with my father. We were basically strangers to each other. He believed my childhood diagnosis that I was “retarded.” We never talked unless he was screaming at me for being an idiot. I hung up the phone with my mother completely dejected. My father would never encourage or support any educational endeavors for me believing it was wasted time, money, and energy. I would have to quit school.

But that evening, Mom called me to say Dad had agreed to a loan. Twenty-five hundred dollars would be sent to me in the next few days. However, Mom stressed that the money was not a gift. It was a loan, and I would have to pay my father back every cent. I didn’t want to take from my family, so  I agreed to return the money as soon as possible.

I graduated from school and went right to work in spas, clinics, and soon my own office. I was a successful massage therapist and started sending payments for the loan back to my family as early as possible even though we actually hadn’t established a payment plan.

Five months later, Mom and Dad came to visit me in New Mexico. Dad told me a story he could not wait to share with me. One afternoon, Dad had gone to the bank to withdraw money for a new roof my parents needed to put on their house. While he was standing in line waiting for his turn at the teller counter, Dad  stated that he kept hearing a voice! The voice kept telling him to withdraw an additional 2500 dollars. Over the next few minutes, my father engaged in a mental argument with the voice in his head. He didn’t need the money, why would he withdraw it? What was the point of pulling additional money out of the bank if it wasn’t necessary? By the time he reached the teller counter, Dad stopped arguing. He gave in to the voice and withdrew the additional cash. Afte the transaction, he went right home where Mom asked him for 2500 on my behalf. Mom sent out a money order to me the very next day. I loved hearing this story. My father and I had never been close and he was not a spiritual person. He had belief but not faith. Still, he had listened to a random voice in his head. And trusted it.

Now, I had a surprise for my dad. On my parents’ last night in town, we went out to dinner together before saying a long goodbye back at their hotel room. They would be leaving very early in the morning. Before I left the hotel, I handed my father another payment check. This check was for 1700 dollars. The loan was now paid off in full. As I said good bye, I had just pressed the check into his hand and walked out the door. Dad ran down the hotel hallway after me as he looked at the check. I just remember him saying, “Can you afford this? Can you afford this amount?”

I just smiled. “Yes, Dad,” I answered, “I can.” I had been highly blessed in my massage career and was able to support myself effectively with my practice. I had paid my father back in full that evening…

…and he passed away two months later.

After our tumultuous relationship over the years, I believe we both were now at peace. This is not just a story about financial support. It is a story of grace, gratitude, healing, and connection before it is too late.  I’m so happy I was able to pay my father back before his passing…And for that, I feel so blessed.