The experiences that helped me grow the most are the ones that happen when I’m hurting. Of course, this isn’t the case for all of them, but a good handful of them.

For instance, every few years my family moves because of my dad’s job in the military. Although I don’t love it, it’s what’s shaped me to become a better adapter.

Or, my younger brother’s adoption. We have never regretted it. However, like many adoptions, it involves a bit of confusion and hurt, but it’s helped my family to grow and learn more about what might be going on in his mind.

And another big one is a friend’s death. She was in her sixties, but her health wasn’t very good—she had MS (multiple sclerosis) had a feeding tube, and couldn’t walk—and after I moved, I never said goodbye to her. It helped me learn to grieve, to hold on to the ones I have, and to remember to always let my last words be words of love.

Life is always readily handing out hard experiences, but sometimes we need to realize and remember that joy comes in the morning. (Psalm‬ ‭30‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Or, joy comes in the mourning.

Praying for you friends, and thanks for reading!

~Willow

“For his [God’s] anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭30‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬