We can’t get through life without problems. They come in many forms: illnesses, relationships, financial, to name just a few of the most common ones. My life ran pretty smoothly for the most  part, but when the problems loomed, I can see now how they served to give me inner strength.

Trials and Tribulations  –  A Lesson in Perseverance

Some of the traumatic events of my life stand out more than others, and I won’t write about them chronologically, or include them all.

One, in particular, happened after the birth of my fifth child, Kelly, in 1967. It was a relatively easy birth considering it had been seven years since I had last pushed a baby into this world. We were home from hospital an hour when I felt an uncontrollable itch on my back. Nothing would soothe it. Within a few days my entire body was covered in angry looking welts, which gradually turned into blisters. Doctors were baffled, and even biopsied a blister, to no avail. They treated me with a drug used for leprosy, and later, Cortisone shots left me with a moon face, and no relief…..

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance    (James 1:2,3)

Tomorrow  –  About Job and Me  –  A Lesson in Relating