When my cousin crashed our rental car, leaving me with a $5,000 bill, I spent months trying to get her to pay me back. Just as I gave up, I saw her flaunting her ‘success’ on social media and discovered I wasn’t the only one she owed. Karma caught up to her, and I got a front-row seat!
It’s been a year since that disastrous West Coast holiday, and I still feel the sting of that $5,000 debt. My cousin Debra, who’s supposed to be an accountant, racked up a huge damage charge on our rental car and then had the audacity to act like it wasn’t her problem.
It was under my name, so guess who got stuck with the bill? That’s right, me. Lisa, the ever-reliable project manager from Boston. I swear, some days I think my middle name should be “Doormat.”
I remember that holiday like it was yesterday. Seven of us cousins decided to get together for some “family bonding” out on the West Coast.
Debra was there, of course, with her charismatic charm and reckless attitude. One evening, she decided it would be a fantastic idea to drive the rental car down a narrow, winding coastal road at night.
The air was crisp, the moonlight casting eerie shadows as she sped along the road, ignoring my pleas to slow down.
“Come on, Lisa, live a little!” Debra laughed, her voice filled with reckless glee.
She cranked up the music and took another swig from her bottle. I clutched the seat, my knuckles white.
“Debra, please, you’re going too fast!” I yelled, my heart pounding.
She just laughed harder, taking a sharp turn way too quickly. My heart stopped as the car skidded toward the edge, tires screeching.
I thought we were all going to die that night, but the guardrail saved us. The impact when we slammed into it was jarring, leaving us all stunned and the car a complete wreck.
The holiday mood? Completely ruined.
When the rental company slapped a $5,000 damage charge on the car, Debra just shrugged.
“We’re family,” she said with a flippant wave of her hand. “We should all pitch in.”
The other cousins mumbled vague agreements.
“Maybe we can split it evenly,” suggested Jimmy, the peacemaker of the group.
“Split it? Are you kidding? I wasn’t even in the car,” retorted Martha, crossing her arms.
“I can’t afford that right now,” mumbled Jake, avoiding eye contact.
Before being brought back to life, the woman is dead for 27 minutes. Her message is amazing.
This story of Tina and Madie Johnson is truly inspiring, both for the miraculous events Tina experienced and for the deep, lasting faith it instilled in those around her. Surviving a heart attack and being revived after 27 minutes is already remarkable, but Tina’s message of “It’s real,” as she pointed to heaven, has resonated with people worldwide. For her niece Madie, this simple, powerful message was profound enough to become a permanent reminder—a tattoo she proudly wears as a tribute to her aunt’s faith and resilience.
Faith stories like Tina’s often strike a chord because they touch on universal themes of hope, resilience, and belief in something beyond ourselves. Such experiences can reinforce faith for believers and inspire hope, even for those who may struggle with doubt. Tina’s journey and her message remind us that faith and courage are potent sources of inner strength, particularly in the face of life-altering challenges.
Through sharing Tina’s story, Madie has helped spread a message of love, resilience, and hope, demonstrating how even in the face of death, Tina’s belief carried her—and her family—forward. In difficult times, stories like these serve as beacons, offering comfort, strength, and a reminder of the profound impact faith can have on our lives.
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