pain is inevitable. suffering is optional.

I ran across a great quote this morning - "Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional." I have gone through so much in my life, more than most people probably know and more than I feel comfortable sharing. I have handled my pain in many different ways, sometimes in ways that I truly regret. At times, I felt like there was nothing left for me and other times I just put my hope and trust in God, knowing that I was too weak and vulnerable to handle it all on my own. This quote has really made me think. Yes, life will always be full of trying situations, some that will test our limits even, but how we choose to handle them is what really counts. We can choose to give up and believe there is nothing we can do. Or we can choose not to suffer and do something about it.