May 2, 2022

The rose is certainly one of the most beautiful and desired flowers created, yet every rose grows with thorns. Life is much the same, and each of us gets to decide if we can be thankful for the rose while dealing with the thorns.

What I learned is that when we choose to embrace the difficulties and vulnerable moments in our lives through the lens of growth, we grow. We grow in ways that make us authentically grounded and anchored from the inside. When we remain faithful and thankful during our trials, we gain a deeper sense of appreciation and gratitude for life’s good times. We also give others courage and permission to embrace their wilderness moments with confidence and character.

We become real, together. People crave real. We can relate to real.

We all encounter stumbling blocks or stepping stones in life. It’s our choice to turn them into moments of growth. And as Christine Cain states: “Sometimes when we think we’re being buried, we’re really being planted.”

I’ll leave you with the poem titled: The Way We Become

We can’t always see our own formation when it’s taking place – we’re clay on life’s wheel, unable to predict the forces that will shape us.

But time does always tell.

Then we are able to look back and see how the demanding moments and shattering seasons were stretching and softening us. How the moment when everything collapsed wasn’t actually the end but, in fact, signaled a new beginning. That the strongest parts of our foundation – the pieces that hold us together – are thanks to the force of the wheel. And we have become who we are because of it.