Strength. While there are many definitions of the word, the one we’re going to focus on is “The emotional or mental qualities necessary in dealing with situations or events that are distressing or difficult”.  This past week I have witnessed strength in the lives of certain friends in my life and I stand amazed at how resilient they can be in the face of difficult or seemingly impossible circumstances.

Life throws stuff our way every day, sometimes expected, sometimes smacking us in the face out of the blue, and it is our strength of character that shows up in our attitude and in our words.  I will admit to you that at times I can be quite the whiney butt, not my most attractive attribute for sure, and usually it’s about something relatively miniscule.  My hope is that in times of real adversity that I can display the strength necessary to persevere like others I have witnessed.  And while I have witnessed great strength from these people, I also know that their true strength comes from their faith, a faith they know they can depend on, a faith they know will hold them up when they feel like they can’t take any more.

Strength also comes from the unconditional love of friends and family, those who are available to just listen when needed, not necessarily giving advice or trying to fix things, but a solid shoulder for them to cry on, an ear to cry into.  A hug with no words can be a powerful strength builder, something anyone can give.  Listening to those who are struggling and giving them support and hugs is an honor and helps to feed our suffering friends, giving them additional strength when they feel they have none.  It costs nothing and yet is worth everything.

Strength comes knowing that sometimes life is just life and Life. Is. Hard.  It’s knowing that you’ve survived hard times before and that you can survive something else.  It’s the fact that someone in your life allowed you to experience the hard knocks and showed you how to brush yourself off that built up your strength.  I often wonder, as I watch our bubble wrapped generation of kids, if one day they’re going to face a situation that nobody can fix for them or protect them from and I’ll see them collapse into a heap.  We’re already hearing stories of young college students dropping out of school because for once mom and dad can’t step in and protect them when the professor won’t deviate from the syllabus and take in late work.  And this is MINOR.  Allowing a child to face adversity isn’t cruel, it’s cruel NOT to allow a child to face it.  I’m not saying to abandon the child, but if you want to teach a child to be strong, you have to allow them to experience adversity when it happens to let them see and experience that they CAN be strong.

I have faith in my friends who are facing adversity that they will not only survive these hard times but will come out stronger in the end.  That’s the thing about strength, just when you think you can’t take any more of life, your strength can grow and teach you otherwise.  You are loved more than you know, you are gaining wisdom as you go forward, and you are stronger than you think.