live fully.

“people who have only good experiences aren’t very interesting.

they may be content, and happy after a fashion, but they aren’t very

deep. it may seem a misfortune now, and it makes things difficult,

but well—it’s easy to feel all the happy, simple stuff.

not that happiness is necessarily simple.

but I don’t think you’re going to have a life like that,

and I think you’ll be the better for it.

the difficult thing is to not be overwhelmed by the bad patches.

you must not let them defeat you.

you must see them as a gift—a cruel gift, but a gift nonetheless.”

-peter cameron

i saw this on another blog-that i'm currently obsessed with-

and wanted to share it. there are many verses that state this same

thing in a different way...

romans 5:3-5 not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

james 5:11 as you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. you have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

james 1:2-4 consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

so whether you wish to be interesting, deep, better, a receiver of all gifts,

one who perseveres, has good character and knows true hope,

counted as blessed, purely joyful, or mature and complete, not lacking

anything, then i'm afraid you must suffer, struggle, and experience

misfortune. and in the end, this is what will make you a person

who knows what it is to live and live fully.