My upbringing was outrageously Americana; raised in the playground of the Rocky Mountains, my parents loved each other and their children. But none of us is an exception to the vicissitudes of life. Having a vast extended family, I was perfectly poised for observational learning. The list includes; depression, anxiety, abuse in all forms-physical, emotional, drug and alcohol, bi-polar disorder, pornography, infidelity, divorce, a ponzi scheme, federal imprisonment, sibling rivalry, untimely death, heart attacks, strokes, single parenthood and Alzheimers.
I am not unusual. Life is full of ups, downs and complexities. The question isn’t, “Will challenges come into my life?” Rather, “How do I respond when challenges come?” Do I choose love or hate? Light or darkness? Faith or Godlessness?
Our daughter Ella is serving far from home as a missionary for our church, for 18 months. A blessing of that, is to forget yourself as you focus on others through Christ-centered service. Those Ella serves are now her dear friends, oh how she loves them! An excerpt from a letter home read:
“The people here are humble, kind, and prioritize their relationship with God. It is interesting to see different perspectives; from those who have everything they could want, to those who have nothing to hold onto but hope. Many have been through the most brutal…
