As I read the wonderful thoughts and blessings from our family at Heritage, I began thinking of what I have to say. And there it was – mountain climbing. God has given me several “big mountains" to climb in the later years of my life but this most recent one is the biggest…it’s for a lifetime, they tell me. My medicine is “life sustaining” so if I am off it any length of time that could be it. “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain”. Phil 1:21. I have to admit, the human part of me is very weak and I get discouraged and down, but I have two beautiful kids to help me put those hiker boots back on, pull up the bootstraps, and trudge on up that mountain.

I was trying to find scripture to put in words exactly what I feel right at this moment and this popped out to me: “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” Psalms 27:13. That is it exactly.  I think of the trials Josh and Andrea have endured with Baby Jett and know that without God and his comfort…they could not possibly have done it. Therefore, I can do this. I WILL DO THIS!

Some people only have to glide over rolling hills during their lifetime and never have to see the big mountains that others face. They are lucky ones. But mountain climbing is good for the souls as well as our bodies. We become much stronger and the next mountain seems so much easier after the big one is conquered.

God Bless you as you climb your mountain or glide over your rolling hills.

Virginia Totman