What K.W.'s Dad's Thinking

  Good Morning friends!  For many of us this holiday season can be a busy time, and we can put a lot of extra pressure on ourselves trying to make it "perfect."  We feel we need to have the perfect home to entertain in, make the perfect dinner to feed our guests, and buy the perfect gift to convey our love.  We rob ourselves of joy though when we put the added pressure of perfection on ourselves.  It is often in the letting go that we find true freedom and peace.  With that being said, I want to share with you a very special post, guest written by my dad and sent to me in an e-mail this morning.  I hope you all enjoy the message of his words as much as I did and glean from it the lesson which can help you to enjoy not just this season, but every season as you move through life.  As always, I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.W.

  "This morning I came walking out to my dining room table to see the art project [my grandson] and I had been working on.  I looked at it, and I could see all the imperfections.  There were places the paint was applied heavy, and places it was light, places the colors bled over into the other sections and didn’t stay within the lines.  I wanted to go over it, put a second coat on it so that when Aden came to get it it would be 'perfect.'  Then as I looked at it a little closer, I realized I was seeing the brush strokes, the paint that represented the application by hand of an 8 year old boy.  It suddenly dawned on me that I was not looking at a store bought, factory finished guitar; I was looking at Art, and it was Perfect.  Suddenly, I was looking at this with a completely different view. 

  When we were going to start this project, I didn’t want us to touch the guitar until we had made a plan, a plan  we could follow so it would be perfect and not some spontaneous paint slapped on the guitar.  I had visions of showing Aden how to carefully outline the edges and fill the centers so the edges would be clean and neat.  Once it was perfect, I wanted us to apply a clear coat that would preserve it perfectly.  Had I accomplished my goal it would not have been finished for a while, if ever; nor would Aden have enjoyed the project.  This was his project, his expression, not mine.  I had wanted to control the project, carefully allow one color out at a time, paint meticulously, clean up each brush so they constantly looked like new, and then when that was completely dry, move on to the next. 

  After we began and got the first color on, it didn’t get applied perfectly, but we had more coats to do, and we were going from the lighter colors to the darker.  There was still time to fix the 'mistakes.' When we began the second color, Aden put the paint in the palette before I got [to him].  I was expecting to see half the bottle poured into the palette, but he had watched and had poured out just the right amount.  I let him go thinking he would be working on that awhile because, of course, perfection has to be slow and meticulous.  A minute later he [was] out in the kitchen cleaning the brushes and palette, because, 'It’s done.'  I looked at it and almost cringed, but I [was] still thinking that there [was] time to 'fix' it.  As I [went] over to [re]clean the brushes he just cleaned, I look over and [saw] he [was] on to the next color.  He had discovered that the paint dried really quickly.  Pretty soon he was flying through his project.  When he did the back, he poured out all the colors in the palette at once.  It was difficult, but I let him go.  When he got done, he was ready to put the clear coat on, until we went to the store, and he heard me telling him that to do it right, it was going to take at least three coats with two hours drying time in between, and then of course, we needed to sand it [and] tack cloth it, before applying the next coat, so it would be perfect.  He had visions of this not getting done till Christmas.  He [very politely] convinced me that his project didn’t need a clear coat.  [It only needed] his signature to be complete.  

 

  Now, this morning, I am so glad I listened to an 8 year old boy.  As I look at it now, I see a guitar that represents his touch, demonstrate[s] his ability to work without my overseeing every detail, and [that] he got done.  The brushes and palette were cleaned.  No paint was spilled on the floor, and most of all, it got done.  

  How often in my life have I let projects that I wanted to do go undone for years, because if I was going to do it, I had to have the time and materials to do it 'right?'  All others wanted was [for] it [to be] done, (aka, a rocking chair for my little girl that never got done till she was all grown).  As I look at his project now, I realize how [truly] perfect it is.  I am hoping that this lesson sinks in [and] opens my eyes to a more creative side that I’ve always desired in my life but never thought I could have because I didn’t have the patience for perfection.  An 8 year old boy opened my eyes to the fact that perfection is not something without mistakes, it is something that represents our effort and creativity.  It is, as someone very dear to me has said,  'Perfectly imperfect.' "  

Written by:  Stephen Hoefler with inserts by K.W.

Battle Ground

  If you've lived much of life, you've probably come to realize that there are just some things that are out of our control.  And what I can tell you is that the longer I live, the more I realize just how little I actually have control over.  I've learned that I can't control what circumstances will happen in my day.  I also cannot control how the people around me choose to behave, no matter how much I would like to.  Now, I'm aware that there are things we can do to try to direct things, and I am not denying that.  I can control where I choose to go and who I choose to spend my time with, and I can in some way control how people behave by how I treat them or speak to them.  I'm not arguing against the power in that.  But what I am saying is that in most of life, we as humans are not at the helm.  And in some cases that is good for us to understand.  We can take some pressure off of ourselves.
  But with some things in life, not being in control can leave us feeling powerless, defeated, and frustrated.  When it comes to a tragic loss, or a loved one suffering from mental illness, or a government that seems divided, in many ways it can be debilitating to realize we don't have control over those situations.  After all, we've been trained to always be moving forward.  And it is good to have goals and progress towards them.  But sometimes in life, we don't need to move on.  We simply need to hang on.
  The book of 2 Chronicles records the story of Jehoshaphat. (2 Chronicles 20:1-30)  He was an Israelite king, and he was faced with a situation that was completely out of his control.  A large army had him surrounded and was throwing out murderous threats.  It seemed there was no way out but death.  Jehoshaphat called the citizens of the city together, and he prayed this prayer.  "We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us.  We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."  It was clear that all he could do was to pray and hang on.  In response, this is the word the Lord gave to him.  "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours, but God's[…]You will not have to fight this battle.  Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you."
  There are many times in life where we face a battle that we must fight to win.  Perhaps it is with changing our habits, overcoming an addiction, or becoming more of what we know we should be.  But there are also those circumstances in life where we can do nothing, and where we don't know what to do.  It is during those moments when we need only to cry out to God and stand firm in Him.  You see, some battles were never ours to fight.  Some things are out of our control, and that's a good thing, because there is a God who does have control and who can bring about victory if we are simply willing to stand.
  If you are facing an uncontrollable battle today, take courage my friend.  That battle is the Lord's.  You don't need to be the hero.  You simply need to hold on.  Stand tall  and know that deliverance is on the way.  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.W.

Easily Distracted

  Good Morning Friends!
  I want to talk to you today about Purpose.  We were each designed with a specific purpose.  You have something you were made to accomplish.  You are here for a reason, and God is not done with you until you leave this earth, so do not believe the lie that you have missed your chance, are too old, too young, have made too many mistakes, or any number of other deceits we allow to creep into our mind and stop us from doing what we were put here for.
  One of the greatest tactics the enemy uses to keep us from reaching our destiny and achieving our calling is distraction.  Have you ever had a time in your life where you knew you needed to do something...read that book, call that person, apply for that job, but it seemed like life was just so busy, and you couldn't seem to find the time or energy to get it done.  That is distraction my friend, and if you allow it to, this distraction can keep you waylaid and ineffective for days, months, years, or a lifetime.  Do not be blinded by all the little things which come up against you.  The enemy is hoping that if he uses enough distractions and keeps you off course long enough that you will give up on your dream or forget your purpose, and many people do.  
  One way to prevent getting sidetracked by distraction is to have priorities and stick to them.  I encourage you to sit down and make a list of what the most important things you need to do each day are.  You can have a list of overall guiding values for your whole life, or you can make a specific list for this year, month, week, or day.  The important thing is to know what is most important and get that done first so that you cannot be pulled aside when other "to-do's" pop up throughout your day.        In fact, this principle is so valuable, that in the early 1900s, Charles Schwab paid Ivy Lee $25,000 or the equivalent of $400,000 today to teach his employees how to get more done in a day.  Ivy Lee's strategy, make a list of the six most important things that need done each day in order of importance.  Then, start with number one, and work your way down the list, focusing on only one at a time.  Basically what he was teaching them was to keep the most important things most important.  Seems simple, but in a world of text messaging, Facebook, Instagram, E-mail, and a plethora of other distractions, this idea can be easily lost.  
  Another way to stay focused is to have a word or a few words which define what is most important to you or what you need to be focusing on.  For example, maybe your word for the year is "Simplify."  Each day, as tasks come your way you would ask yourself the question, "Is this helping me to simplify my life?"  If the answer is "Yes," then you know you are on track.  If the answer is "No," then you know to steer clear of this activity.  You can also have a list of a couple things which you need to do each day to stay on track.  For example, "Breath, Walk, Save."  Then, you know that each day you need to take time for meditation, walking, and putting something in to your savings account.  Keeping these three words at the forefront of your mind will ensure you keep moving in the right direction and you get the most important things done.
  Whatever your purpose, take some time today to get focused and really hone in on what is most important for you.  Then, do not allow distractions to pull you off course.  Set your mind on your list and complete the things that are essential to your purpose first.  You will find that you are less stressed and more productive when you are working within your goals and dreams.  Stay focused today!  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.W.

State of Being

  Hey friends, I want to encourage you tonight that’s ok to just “be.”  We live in a world that is so focused on “do,” and sometimes we get consumed with our list. I’m coming off a week out of town which means that there is cleaning and laundry, shopping and bills, and a myriad of other things which need attended to, and I have been diligently slugging away at the list all day. But I sat down with a cup of tea just now and looked around. There are still more dishes, there is studying I need to do. There are forms that need filled out for my son, and books to read and projects to finish, but sometimes we have to take a step back. Step out of the busy. Hit the off switch for a minute. Look around you and just “be.” Take in the feeling, the smell of a candle, the taste of a hot tea, the coolness of a breeze.
  We’ve been conditioned to think that sitting still means we’re doing something wrong, but there is health and life in just taking a deep breath and observing the world around us.  We can find restoration in those still small moments. Whether you are on the mountain top, in the depths of the valley, or somewhere in between on your journey, take a moment to absorb where you’re at.  That little rest will power you forward as you head on down the road. And whenever you feel the world is rushing by too fast, remember that it’s ok to stop and let yourself be. I can’t wait to see you succeed!

~K.W.

Right Where You Are

  Hi friends!  I've been thinking a lot lately about contentment.  I know there are a lot of us out there that have dreams and goals and aspirations that we are so excited to reach, but we must not get so wrapped up in looking ahead that we forget to look around us and enjoy the beauty of the moment.  One of my greatest "regrets" is not appreciating  or enjoying each moment.  And it is one of my greatest goals to, as Paul says,  "be content whatever the circumstances."  (Philippians 4:11)
  You see, we miss so much of life thinking, "if only."  If only I had that car, that house, that job, that pay raise, etc.  But we forget that "THIS is the day the Lord has made."  And we should "rejoice and be glad in it."  (Psalm 118:24)  Do not let your desires for the future rob you of the joy of today.  You may want a bigger house, but I bet the smaller one you have is filled with memories.  You may desire more money, but I bet you can find ways to enjoy what you have right now.  Joy is our choice, and choosing to live in the moment and appreciate each day for what it is is a big part of learning to live contentedly.
  You only get one life, and I challenge you to make the most of it by making each day your best day yet.  Do not look back on your life and realize you missed all the moments because you were so focused on what was ahead.  It's not the destination that makes life great; it's the journey to get there.  Look around you today and find things to celebrate.  Find things to appreciate.  You will find that the more you choose to be happy in your circumstances, the less you will need and the more peace and joy you will have on the way to your goals.  As always, make it a great day, and I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.W.
 

Fighting Fear

  Hey there friends!  Are you experiencing fear or anxiety in your life right now?  Sometimes it can seem that once our minds start racing down this track that there is no way to get them back, but I want to share with you a few of the secrets which have helped me on days of fear and doubt.
  If you have been around church people for any length of time, you've probably heard the phrase, "Be anxious for nothing."  But what most people do is quote that verse to someone who's struggling with anxiety like they are just supposed to magically stop being afraid.  That makes no sense at all.  Those of us who deal with anxiety do not choose to feel that way, and if we knew of a way to just not be anxious, we wouldn't be.  The problem when people quote this verse is that they leave the second part off, and that part is the key to being "anxious for nothing."  The whole two verses go like this...."Do not be anxious about anything, BUT in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4:6-7, emphasis added)
  Make no mistake about it, there is a proven strategy here for overcoming anxiety, and here's what it is.  The first step is this.  Ask God for help.  Simple.  Secondly, start thanking God.  This is the real weapon which will give you victory.  The more things your thank God for, the more your brain turns towards good things, and the more anxiety loses its grip on you.  You can overcome those racing thoughts by replacing them with thankful thoughts.
  Now, before you punch me or write me a nasty email, understand that I am not saying this is easy.  Just because the steps are simple does not make them easy to do.  And, because our minds are so powerful, if you've been fighting anxiety for some time, that thought pattern may be very ingrained in your brain, and it may take fighting this battle many times to overcome.  Do not grow discouraged if you don't immediately gain victory.  There are days when I have to ask God for help, then thank Him for as many things as I can think of, and then do it all over an hour later.  Take courage and find hope though in the fact that you can overcome.  Do not let fear rule your life.  Cry out to God for help, and begin letting thankfulness restore your mind to peace.  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.W.

P.S.  I am not in any way suggesting that it is wrong for you to seek help from a professional or through the use of medication.  I am also not a psychologist or medical doctor.  I am simply offering a way that has helped me to overcome my anxiety at times when I was struggling.  Each person is unique, and it may require you to incorporate other strategies as well.  The goal is to achieve mental healing and stability, and I recommend you seek whatever help you need to do that.

Letting Go of Why

  Do you ever find yourself wondering why things happen?  Maybe you question the way the world is, suicides, shootings, anger and hatred seem to be on the news every day.  Maybe you question circumstances in your own life or in the life of someone close to you.  Often times we are plagued with the age old question of "Why do bad things happen to good people?"  But as we look around at life's seeming injustices or at the condition of our world, we have to remember that there are two forces at work.  There is a force of evil which desires to "steal, kill, and destroy."  But there is also a force of Good which seeks that we might "have life and have it more abundantly."  (John 10:10)
   I was reminded yesterday about the story of Joseph in the Bible.  Joseph was a man who had every reason to ask God "Why?"  He was stripped of his position and his possessions as a young man and thrown into a pit in the desert, only to be pulled out and sold into slavery in a foreign country.  His own brothers did this to him.  Later, after years of working as a slave to a man named Potiphar, he had finally proven his worth and gained a position of power.  He was second in command of a large Egyptian household.  But he was sabotaged yet again.  Falsely accused, he was robbed of his position once more and sent to prison.  He spent years in prison, during which time he could have become bitter and discouraged, but he held on to his faith.  Eventually, through his visions from God, he became associated with Pharaoh, was taken out of prison, and given the position of second in command of all the land of Egypt.  And it was this position which allowed him to rescue not only the land of Egypt, but his entire family (the ones who sold him into slavery all those years ago) from starvation and destruction through seven years of famine.  (Genesis 37-50)  Looking at the whole picture of Joseph's life, we can see that his circumstances were leading him to exactly where he needed to be and preparing him to be the man who could rescue an entire nation.  But in midst of all those circumstances, Joseph couldn't see what was coming next.  He simply had to trust that God's plan would work out for good in the end.  I think part of the reason God dedicated an entire 13 chapters to the story of Joseph is so we could be reminded that in our life we may have terrible circumstances, and we may not understand them, but if we will remain in faith, God will use those circumstances for good.
  Cheryl McGuinness, the wife of the Co-pilot of one of the American Airlines flights which crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001, said it this way, "I believe that his [God's] purposes are greater than we can begin to comprehend, and the answers to our questions are often far beyond our ability to understand."  (Taken from Cheryl's book, Beauty from Ashes)  We have a great God, and even in the midst of our darkest days, He will never abandon us.  Do not lose hope if you are facing difficult times.  The enemy tries to use our circumstances to destroy us, but God uses them to do great and amazing things we never could have anticipated.  Do not grow weary in well doing my friend.  God has a great plan for your life.  I pray you know how much you are loved.  Make this a great week!  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.W.

An Intersection of Wills

  Hi there!  I was thinking a lot today about selfishness, but maybe not in the way that you would think.  I know there are a lot of philosophies out there on selfishness today.  One author tells you not to be selfish and to put others first.  Another expert tells you that you must put yourself first so that you can then care for others, and in a way, both these ideas are true.  However, I was thinking today not so much about whether or not to be selfish, but about what happens when two selfish people intersect.  And to be fair, I think we all are selfish people from time to time.  It's easy to get into a mindset of feeling like we are always in need, and when we do that we always begin to look at others with the mentality of what they can do for us or what we need from them.  And it's not that it's bad to need others to do things for you.  For example, in my work setting, I need my employees to perform their jobs, and I want them to do it as efficiently as possible.  As a mother, I need my child to follow my instructions, and I want him to do it with a good attitude.  Much of what we do in life is based on our thought process of what we need others to do in order for our day to run smoothly.  The problem is that everyone else is also thinking about what they need others to do for their day to run smoothly, and this is where the intersection happens.
  I may be thinking that I need to get somewhere quickly, and so I get angry when the person in front of me at the store takes too long at the cash register, while the person at the register may be thinking that they need to feed their family, but they have a limited amount of funds and getting that coupon put in right or making sure that their total does not exceed a certain amount is extremely important.  Each of us is thinking about what we need, and getting frustrated that things are not going our way.  The cashier may be thinking that she needs to get to her lunch break so she can go to a doctor's appointment she scheduled.  Consequently she is frustrated by having to wait for her manager to come make the correction to the purchase.   We each have a need, and in our selfishness we forget that the people around us also have needs.  What happens when selfish people intersect is a traffic jam of wills, and the result is injury, insult, and division.
  How often have you grumbled and complained because someone expected you to do something for them that you did not have the time or the desire to do?  That person may not have even realized they inconvenienced you because they were only thinking about their needs.  Likewise, you may have inadvertently done the same thing someone else.  It's so important that we wake up and start looking beyond ourselves.  If we truly want to love others and build lasting relationships and change the climate of our culture, then we must begin to think about others.  We must choose to be understanding rather than upset, conscientious of others instead of confrontational with others, and we must begin to view each intersection of wills as an opportunity to meet the needs of others.   As you start a new week tomorrow, keep in mind the needs of others around you, and try to see things from their perspectives.  You will find yourself offended less often when you know that people are not deliberately trying to anger you, they are simply trying to meet their needs the same way as you are trying to meet yours.  Give a little grace today, and it will go a long way towards making your day more peaceful and joyful.  Make it a great week!  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.W.  

Hitting the Trail

  Today I want to share a few thoughts with you that I had while I was running this morning.  Now, to be fair, it has been over a year since I have run.  Prior to that I had become an avid runner.  I was going to the trail almost every day, and on my days off I was running around 7 miles.  But then I hit a snag.  Two snags in fact.  In June of last year I dropped a dresser on my foot and ended up in a boot for a month.  It's safe to say this effectively stopped my running for a period of time.  And just about the time when I was thinking my foot had healed enough to start again, I was bitten by a dog on my other foot.  This prevented me from running for a few more weeks, and after that it got cold and snowy, and from that time on I basically gave up on running.  In fact, I haven't even attempted to run since last June.  My body had gotten to a place where I thought of myself as someone who "used to run."
  Have you ever been there?  Maybe not with running, but with your life in general?  Maybe something got you off track with your career.  Maybe you got sidelined by illness, having kids, or caring for a loved one, and maybe now you think of yourself as someone who "used to have a good career."  Maybe it's your health.  Maybe your travel schedule or your family schedule caused you to start making poor food choices and stop exercising, and now you feel like you are just someone who "used to be healthy."  Maybe you used to be strong spiritually.  You were grounded in your faith and had a strong relationship with God, but maybe you made a wrong choice, and then another, and another, until you aren't even sure now where you are at with God.  You just see yourself as someone who "used to be religious."
  We all have things in life that knock us off course, change our direction, or slow us down for a time.  But many times we continue that pattern long after the original cause for our change in direction is gone.  But what I want to remind you today is that it is never to late to get back on course.  You can be someone who has a great career, is an avid runner, is healthy, has a strong relationship with God, or any number of life goals you may have let fall by the wayside.  You won't get there by looking back at what you used to be though.  You can only get to where you should be by looking ahead and starting one step at a time down the right path.
  When I started down the trail jogging today, at first it felt heavenly.  I had a spring in my step, and it felt so good to be running again.  But after a few hundred feet my body started to question, "Are we really doing this?  We're going to keep running?"  My lungs and legs wanted to stop, but my brain said, "Just keep moving."  And when I made it almost around the track I realized something.  I was letting go of the past, running free of my false ideas about my inabilities, and when I crossed the line to finish the lap, I knew in my head, "I did it.  I am still a runner."
  Let this be a reminder to you that no matter how long you've been off the path or no matter how far you are from where you were, all you need to do to become what you're meant to be is take the first step, then another, and another.  Don't quit.  Finish the first lap, and when you do, you will once again know that you can do it, and you have done it, and you are making it.  Don't let the past lie to you about who you are now and what you can be in the future.  Get out there and hit the trail today.  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.W.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

  Have you ever been on one of those train rides or roller-coasters or waterslides that goes into a dark tunnel.  One of the ones that is pitch black and you have no idea where you are going.  Now, I know some of you would never go on a ride like that, and that's ok, but for those of us who do, we go on the ride, and we don't panic when it goes into the dark because we know that the tracks lead back out into the light.  We can enjoy the thrill of the unknown because we know that eventually we will end up where we are supposed to be.  

  But what about when that happens in life?  When you are traveling along just fine and then suddenly everything goes black, or when you suddenly can't find your way and you just seem to be being pushed along with the days.  It is during these times of darkness, confusion, or seeming lostness that we must lean into our faith, and more importantly, trust the promises of the One who inspires our faith.  Often times we know in our hearts the promises God has given us: for a hope and future (Jeremiah 29:11), for all things to work out for good (Romans 8:28), for healing (Isaiah 53:5), forgiveness (1 John 1:9), for supernatural provision (2 Peter 1:3), and for so many other things.  But sometimes we choose to only see the darkness around us, rather than looking ahead, knowing with confidence that the light of hope will appear in the distance.  

  When we remind ourselves that God is the one who built the tracks, and He knows exactly where we are headed, then we can be at peace even when we are unsure of where God is taking us.  We can have assurance He is bringing us towards something good.  We can fix our eyes ahead of us and rest in the knowledge that we are headed toward the light.  Do not let times of darkness or confusion in your life cause you to derail yourself or your progress.  Cling to the hope we have in God's promises and continue to walk down the path.  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.W.  

Playing the Losing Game

  Good Morning Friends!  Have you ever become so entrenched in your own struggles that you forget for a time that other people are struggling too?  I believe we often get tied up in our "woe is me" attitude, and we block out the fact that other people might be going through the same things and could use our help.  The other day my son told me the he and his friends were having an argument about which of them has the worst life.  (Insert eye roll here.)  Now, none of these boys has a bad life... not even slightly.  But my son was angry because his friend had told him "Bad stuff happens in everybody's life."  Basically a nice way of saying, "Get over yourself."  And although we can all shake our heads at a few boys tossing around their problems as if the world rested on their shoulders, don't we as adults do the same thing?  How often when a friend tells us about a situation they are experiencing do we jump in and begin to "one-up" them with what we are going through.  Essentially, we are playing the "who has the worst life" game without even realizing it.
  You see, my son's friend was right.  We all have bad things happen in our lives.  We all have hurts and losses and disappointments.  But we also all have blessings, good things we can be thankful for, and things to celebrate.  Maybe it's time we started reminding each other of the victories in our lives instead of keeping score of the losses.  We are never too busy to give a friend a hug and some words of encouragement.  We should never be so focused on ourselves that we can't reach out to someone else.  Now, maybe you aren't able to fill their exact need right now.  Maybe you can't write a check that will cover their need, but you can send a card with Scriptures to lift them up.  Maybe you don't have time to go cook or clean for someone who just had surgery, but you can send a gift card for a pizza delivery service.  There are all kinds of ways we can be a blessing to someone, even in the midst of our own struggles.
  I'm not saying our own problems aren't real.  Believe me, I know.  I have recently gone through a time of heartache where it was all I could do some days to get out of bed.  And during those days, I can tell you that I wasn't thinking much about other people's hurts, but I can tell you that the little ways people reached out to me.. a message on Facebook, a gift card to take my family out to dinner, looking out for me and checking in when they knew I wasn't doing well, meant the world to me as I wrestled with my own hurts.  And as I started to recover, looking for little things I could do to lift others up went a long way towards healing my spirit as well.  If you are in the midst of a great struggle right now, my heart aches for you, because I know how much life can hurt, but I also want you to know that you are not alone in the valley, that you will come out on the other side, and while you are in the desert, take a look around... you might find there is someone who needs you to take their hand and walk through it with them.  I love you very much, and I cannot wait to see you succeed!

~K.W.