Thoughts and stories, by Pal

If it seems we are having more trials these days, perhaps if we look carefully, we can also recognize more blessings! Not a Punishment, But a Pathway: Identifying the Gifts in Our Trials By  Lynne Perry Christofferson  · August 19, 2020 If I had known beforehand what was about to unfold, would I have stayed in bed that morning? I could have rolled onto my side, tugging the comforter snugly around me, and saved myself some pain. But trouble rarely gives advance notice. No, it shows up on your front porch, uninvited, and pushes its way into your life before you can slam the door. I remember exactly what I wore that day: the deep red turtleneck sweater to ward off January’s chill, my favorite worn-in jeans, and sturdy brown lace up shoes. I even recall thinking it was a decent hair day as I stowed my comb in its designated bathroom drawer and stepped back into the bedroom to pray. But in the end, none of that mattered. Just as I knelt at my bedside, I cau