3 Points to Ponder
- “It is our greatest pains, our greatest challenges, that hollow out our souls. If we walk through our challenges, we have the ability to carry more joy moving forward. If we never move through our pain, this deep reservoir carries deep sadness. How we deal with challenges makes all the difference.”
- “The most important step in the journey is the next one. Focus on taking that next step with all your heart.”
- “Claiming your story, all the goods and the bads, can be one of the most liberating actions. Write the story you wish to tell the world.”
2 Quotes to Share
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” -Frederick Buechner
“Growth demands a temporary surrender of security.” – Gail Sheehy
1 Story of Impact
At the age of 36, my grandfather, Ralph De Cook, lay down with a headache. Little did he know, a blood vessel had burst in his brain and he would be fighting for his life. To stop the bleeding, the doctors had to tie the blood vessel in a knot, leaving half of his body paralyzed. The doctors told him he would never walk again, never hold a job, and be bed-ridden for the rest of his life. The doctors didn’t know my grandpa very well. Determined to move again, he taught himself to walk. He held a full-time job, as he became an elected official as the Marion County Auditor. He drove a truck using a knob on the steering wheel. He woodworked in his shop, creating various tools to make up for the loss of one hand. His life was never easy, but he met his challenges head on and persevered. He ended up having nine grandchildren, all of whom were impacted by the life he lived. Ralph’s perseverance through challenges rippled into us and shaped the way we look at life. His pain wasn’t for naught; even if he never was physically healed this side of heaven, his character of perseverance was passed onto the generations to come.
