During a gymnastics meet, my daughter straddled the beam. I saw that she was in great pain. She was on the clock. There was a decision that had to be made, would she curl up in pain or press on and finish. I saw that day my daughters character, a character the Lord built.  She got up in anguish and pushed through the routine. As she was saluting the judges with her hands raised high, I saw tears streaming down her face.

I know this moment defined her life, as it did mine.

We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5