“As for me, I’ve tasted a little from every cup and grown through all of it. I have loved until I ached from loving, and wept until my heart was sick of tears. I have known life in all of its chaotic complexity and utter simplicity, its outrageous gains and tragic losses, its devastating pain and exhilarating joy – and looking back, I would not change or undo one moment, even if I could” (Marilee Zdenek).

I’d sometimes think I wish I could go back to a time in my life knowing what I know now so that I would better appreciate certain periods of my life. But then I’d never have learned those lessons in the first place to give me the wisdom I would take back with me.

I’m thankful for the hard parts that made me more like Jesus even more than the good parts that made for good memories.