Life is suffering... another "Sweet" quote.

"To be in relationship is to suffer. To have, you must give. To grow, you must suffer. To live, you must die. That's it. Life is suffering. There's no use complaining about it. This is life. We are intstructed to seize every moment to speak a positive word. We can talk about how suffering can make us more alive or how suffering can be converted into art or how suffering can be a school of instruction in life's virtues. All of these are true." Leonard Sweet

This jumped off the page and made a direct hit to the heart. I really connected to "how suffereing can be a school of instruction". In this season of life, i have really been challenged to look at what i hold dear in regards to virtues and values. I was with a friend from high school that i hang out with once in awhile. he has three kids and went through a pretty crazy divorce. he stated that he was amazed at how well i have been able to hold myself together." In my mind i thought, that is all nice but i am not even sure what "together" looks like these days. if i am holding it together it is not on my own strength. but before i could give him some self righteous answer, he said, "but you can't fall apart, because people have looked to you for support as they go through 'stuff', so you need to hold it together."

I was not sure how to take those words, but after i read this statement today. I would have to say that my "suffering" still pale in comparison to so many other "sufferings" that people endure. it has been a teaching time of what do i value and if i truly believe following christ is the best choice no matter what other people choose. it has tested that belief system. i think everyday is a continual lesson to believe that and live that among whatever happens or seems to go wrong or RIGHT! Yes, my life has some great things (KADE, EVAN and more) going on!