Do Not Pray for an Easy Life — Pray for the Strength to Endure
This quote was hand-written on a board in the entrance of the funeral home. What a beautiful quote, I thought. Especially for someone who endured so much and yet was possibly one of the shiniest, happiest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.
I only had the opportunity to hang out with him once, but I knew how important he was to one of my closest friends. Unfortunately, he passed away this past Monday as a result of a disease he had been battling his entire life — cystic fibrosis.
Processing the loss
After the visitation, I came home and made a Paleo shepherd’s pie. I concentrated on mashing the potatoes and mixing up the spices and cutting up the vegetables oh so carefully. Because for a few minutes I stopped thinking about how we had just talked about the engagement ring they picked out.
For a few moments, it made me forget about the life experiences he’s not going to have. I stopped wondering why such bad things happen to such good people.
Life is heavier than we think
Life is much more difficult than I had anticipated. We pin our hopes and dreams on the people around us, because we’re human. We’re social creatures. But then those people change or leave or pass away and we’re left feeling torn and broken down.
Life isn’t fair — I get that. And part of me understands that without the bad, we couldn’t truly appreciate the good. But knowing that doesn’t make it any easier to watch my friend go through something so heartbreaking.
Why I Climb
In November, I’ll be participating in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s CF Climb. If you’re interested, I’d sincerely appreciate a donation. Just follow this link to my donation page: CF Climb Donation.
Here’s what the event is all about:
| Event | What It Is | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| CF Climb | A stair-climbing event held in cities nationwide | Raises awareness + funds for cystic fibrosis research |
| My Goal | Climb in memory of a life cut too short | Honor my friend and support my friend who loved him |
| How to Help | Donate, share, or simply cheer me on | Every small act makes a difference |
Closing thought
Do not pray for an easy life. Pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.
That quote meant something entirely different to me when I first read it at the funeral home entrance. Now it feels like a reminder to live stronger, love harder, and carry each other through the hard stuff.