By Robert (Bob) Schuman, Owner/Managing Broker, Network Financial Group

I’m a mortgage broker.

In that role, I see close up the immense relief that a homeowner feels when they file Chapter 13.

They are no longer forced to deal with collection calls and a multitude of letters that are aggressive and intimidating, threatening to take their car, foreclose on their home, call them at work, or knock on their door at dinnertime.

No longer do they need to feel helpless, to not know if the threats and intimidation from creditors are real or made up.

To not know your rights, to live with that ever-present fear at all times of impending embarrassment. To walk into a bank not knowing if they will laugh at you. To feel the ever-present shame, the most insidious off all our emotions, that can permeate us to our very core.

Stress has a negative impact on marriages, on a parent’s relationship with their children, co-workers, friends and family.

It can subtly and not so subtly impact our every relationship and action. It permeates every aspect of a debtor’s lives.

And bankruptcy provides relief.

Lawyers deliver relief

Bankruptcy lawyers are the vehicle for providing that relief.

Brendon Burchard’s best selling book High Performance Habits reported on research that found that the highest performing professionals hold in their thoughts and remember, all the ways their work contributes to the well being of others: Their work is of service to something greater and makes a difference.

So when a debtor sits in front of you, know that the work you are about to perform is truly a godsend to these people.

They finally have someone in their corner who knows the law, someone knows what creditors can and cannot do.

Someone who can silence the outrageous and obnoxious phone calls and letters that rob them of any peace of mind they may still cling to during an incredibly difficult and emotional time.

Second chances

For bankruptcy attorneys reading this, and for trustees and their staff who care about ordinary people, what you do is a blessing for these families.

As a country, we pride ourselves on second chances – on redemption, and you are the facilitators of that redemption.

With your help, a mother or father can enjoy their child’s soccer game without fear that a tow truck might show up at the game and take their car, or show up at their door when they have guests or a myriad of other embarrassing situations.

Sometimes, you actually save a life.

A well-respected bankruptcy attorney and friend tells the story of a client turning over to her the cyanide pill he was planning on using before the attorney showed him a way out, a path to end the nightmare successfully.

So, as you drive in to work tomorrow, remember, that the work you do brings these people back to life, helping their family, their children, their relationships.

The work you do is a godsend.

Embrace that, hold onto that thought, know that you are fighting the good fight.

Let it inspire you. There is something very rewarding about being committed to a cause bigger than ourselves.

My hat’s off to you for the work you do and the difference you make.

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Robert (Bob) Schuman is the owner and managing Broker of Network Financial Group since 1987. He is a former U.S. Marine and a past recipient of the consumer protection award from NACBA. He has provided financing and guidance to thousands of homeowners in bankruptcy for over 30 years and is considered a leading expert in the field. He is tenacious in protecting his clients best interest and finding solutions to difficult circumstances. He is a lifelong avid tennis player.