Grief is a stern teacher, but I am confident I could not have learned some lessons in any other way. For that, I am grateful. Grateful to God for loving me enough to stretch me and push me and crush me, to refine me in the furnace of affliction, to force me to stretch my faith beyond what I could see. God loves me more than I can possible comprehend. He watches over me. He watches over all of us. But if the way were easy, how could we grow into who He wants us to be? How could our faith become unshakable?

Understanding what I give up and knowing that I choose freely makes my choice more precious to me.

Their lips met with a tenderness Kate had not dreamed possible. The weeks of heart-break and uncertainty, the pain of wasted days, and the despair of unfulfilled dreams released her like winter surrenders its ruthless grip on the frozen earth in early spring. Did every kiss hold such promise?

For as long as I am your mother and you are my only child, i will worry and hope and pray for you. Do not ask the impossible.

I cannot give up chasing after happiness simply because there might be pain down the road.

God will make known to you how He wants you to use this gift.