From A Far Place

Life is about a journey, one that is twisted, unpredictable path full of twists and turns. There's a struggle, victory, and times of deep personal reflection. Sometimes it gets better when we stop and turn around to see how far we've traveled. Our minds zoom out, like a lens, showing just how far we've come. It's these times of reflection that begin to detail growth, strength, and resilience that has brought us this far.

We all have our personal conceptions of what life is; for those of us who envision life's path to be one in which God is our companion, there is one thing that remains quite undeniable: how His strength has seen us through. Without His guidance and support, we may not have made it through some of life's toughest storms. Others may well feel that their determination and inner strength are what brought them through, but no matter what the source was, one thing ultimately stays the same: the road is rarely easy.

Battles we couldn't have fought by ourselves and victories that, without the support of others, would never have been possible. Along the way, there have been those who have served as our lifeblood; people who reached out a hand, gave an encouraging word, or just were there. Without them, it would have been infinitely harder to make the journey down the road.
These people need to be thanked not so much for what they did, because they were there at a time in our lives when we needed them most.

Life can be far too complex to ever go through it alone, and the displayed kindness by another is literally a bridge which carries us over troubled waters. It's also a reminder to be easy on others. People are walking journeys, fighting battles we may or may not see and understand. Some of them carry loads and burdens that might break even the strongest of us, yet they move forward.

When we envy others who seem successful, we forget years of sacrifice, pain, and toil that brought them there. It is so much easier to judge than it is to appreciate their story's depth. Life is a long, unplanned journey of ups and downs that mold us into who we are. Let's not forget to appreciate our own progress, as well as the progress the people around us make. Acknowledge small victories that most people don't see and the struggles no one truly sees. By doing so, it will make this journey just a little less lonely for ourselves and others.