thanks mom.

So this woman right here...

Yeah, I miss her a lot especially since I don't get to see her face everyday. Needless to say, she has yet to disappoint with the encouraging e-mails and phone calls she sends my way regularly. Today's e-mail really hit me. Basically, this is what I got from it...God throws us obstacles, our faith is tested, and there are many times that we are too quick to give up on that faith when we are faced with the disappointment of how things didn't go our way. Even though we prayed really hard that something would turn out a certain way maybe God has a better plan for our lives that we can't see. Maybe, since the maker of the universe made well, everything, he has an idea of what can work out even better than what we come up with ourselves. We need to have patience and faith (both of which I struggle with) that God will reveal himself in the midst of the defeat and disappointment that we feel when our prayers aren't answered "perfectly." Perhaps, it is during these times that we can truly witness the miracle-working power of God in our lives. So...

"Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding."

-Proverbs 3:5

And when that trust in the Lord is being tested... 

“Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens.  Remember the great reward it brings you!”

-Hebrews 10:35

I aspire to obtain the genuine faith in God like you have, to be able to simply rely on God for everything life throws your way. Even when life wasn't always great, you were there for me waiting. I love you mom, you're nothing short of my hero.