Persevere...

I have a tattoo on my back of a sun with a Chinese symbol in the middle that means persevere.  Mind you, the tattoo artist had not spent 32 years (or even one) studying the fine art of Chinese writing. So, if you ask someone that has, my tattoo may actually mean something like "give up" or "you smell like a donkey."  I am content living in the delusion that it means exactly what I intended... persevere.

To me, that is a big word.  Every time I am faced with a trial, big or small, I remind myself that I have that word forever etched on me.  I can not, will not give up.  We are going through a trial right now, but we will persevere.  We will come out stronger on the other side.

Last night, my brother helped me be Santa's elf.  (If you ask him, maybe it was the other way around.)  The boys got a basketball goal from Santa.  That was a BIG item, especially since daddy isn't here to assemble it!  I don't know what I would've done without my brother helping me.  For that matter, I don't know what I would've done without all the people that have helped me this past week.  God sent me angels, in the form of family and friends, to watch my boys for a week, to repair a flat bike tire, to give up a cherished nutcracker, to spend a day with me, to have dinner with me, and to assemble a basketball goal.

We all face trials, how we handle them determines our character.  God helps us get through hard times, sometimes by sending others along to help or encourage us... sometimes we just need to lean on Him.  What are you facing today?

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12


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Three hours later... done!