Carrying the crosses we are asked to bear

is never an easy task. I have had many heartfelt discussions with a dear friend about how praying "Thy will be done" is the hardest of prayers to pray, because for so many of us, "my will" trumps "thy will" every time. We are in one of those situations right now, and I have had to lay it in my heavenly father's hands, because there are no easy answers here for us with where things are at. Only God knows what His plan is for all of us, and we have to trust in it, and in His timing, rather than trying to make things go as we would like. Sometimes being a Christian means more than just paying lip service to the teachings of Christ, and it means walking the walk as well as talking the talk. Eric and I are trying to do this in our daily lives and set a good example for the kids. But it means standing firm on what we represent when it's hard, and not just when it's easy and rewarding. Parenting sucks sometimes. Living what one believes to be true sucks sometimes. The rewards are not always self-evident or even obvious. But that doesn't negate the fact that there are times you need to do what is necessary because that is the cross you have been given, and that is the path that you need to walk.

I am not going to get into specifics here, because those are neither here nor there. Suffice it to say, life has had some challenges in these past few months, and those challenges continue to be real and emotionally draining at times. Still, by God's grace and love, we will get through them, and we will be fine. It is all in His hands, not ours.