Now, in no way do I equate my struggles to get up the hill on my morning runs or the aching pains I suffer from too vigorous a work out. But, it makes me think about those who don't have a choice about living with their pain every moment of everyday. It makes anything I might self inflict seem an embarrassment in comparison.
I was listening to NPR while inflicting more pain on myself this morning. They were talking about the differences between how American kids today approach difficulties in learning versus Asian kids. American kids are encouraged to focus on how being smart helped them solve a math problem, for instance. If it was too difficult, in a few minutes they were inclined to say,"I haven't had that yet". However, the Asian kids were encouraged to struggle through a hard problem, told that it is in the struggle and figuring it out that was the key to successfully solving it. They struggled through it until the alloted time was up.
I agree, that struggles can help build character and make us stronger and more likely to persevere to a better outcome. Most of us don't welcome struggles. The survivors of Hurricane Sandy certainly didn't welcome what they have had to endure. Yet, they can come out on the other side better for what they have had to come through. That remains their choice.
Our wounded soldiers, who struggle daily with challenges I can't begin to imagine, are remarkable. I read story after story about how they feel that their struggle has made them better than they were before. How they have no regrets, in spite of how the outcome has drastically altered their life forever.
My hats off to all of those who suffered in the past and those who suffer yet today. My prayers, too. That's the least I can do to show them how much I appreciate their struggles.
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