the good fight.

Today was my first day back in the gym in a couple weeks. I had taken some time off with the holidays and also wanted to give my body a break as I've been pushing it pretty hard for the last few months. However, this morning (bright and early at 430am) I was pumped to get back in my workout routine! As I searched for some inspiring music on my iPhone, I tapped my iHeartRadio app and tuned into the Christian Hits station (aka my favorite station!). About halfway through my workout, a song came on by the band Unspoken called "Good Fight". As I listened to the lyrics I felt empowered to face the day ahead. The message was about how no matter what you face in life, you have to keep fighting the good fight and letting your light shine. This song really spoke to my heart because for the last four years of my ankle injury, I've felt like I truly have been fighting the good fight - even through the hard times and the long days of pain and I've tried to keep my light shining. Even during the times when I've felt like I was all alone, God was there to say, "You're going to make it" and that's exactly what this song is about. Sometimes, I'll admit, I do get a little overwhelmed when I think about how I will manage with my ankle injury for the rest of my life, but when thoughts like this come, I remind myself that He has seen me through the difficult times before and He will see me through this too. I am often asked, "How are you able to accept that this is a lifelong injury? How do you remain so positive despite your circumstances?" My answer to this is that honestly, my faith rests in God alone. He has lead me on this journey and continues to strengthen me and I know that as long as I keep my light shining and fighting the good fight, he will see me through. I remain positive because my hope rests in God's faithfulness. I know He has me in the palm of His hand and I have managed to keep my light inside alive because I know I'm going to make it. Maybe it's a different path than I saw for my life, but not my will but His will be done. I trust Him to lead me and I remain hopeful and that is how I have kept my smile :)

My message today is that even when all seems up against you and your back is against the wall, know in your heart God is with you and He is going to see you through. Keep the good fight and always let your light shine. God gave us a cheerful heart for a reason; don't let life's circumstances beat you down. Keep your light. Keep your smile. And most importantly, keep your faith. 

PS - don't forget to check out the song below - just click on the title. You will love it!

"Good Fight" 
Until you stop breathing
Until you stop bleeding
Until your heart stops kick-drum beating
When it's hard times
When it's long days
And the enemy is right up in your face
When your back's against the ropes and you're feeling all alone

Keep fighting the good fight (Never give up, never give up)
Keep letting your light shine (Holding it high as long as you live)
'Cause I'm never gonna leave you
Always gonna see you through to the other side
Keep fighting the good fight, fighting the good, fighting the good fight, good fight

Even in the road blocks (yeah)
Even through the rough spots
When you're feeling you've given all that you've got
I'm with you in the next step
Giving you in the next breath
I'll be the voice saying "You're gonna make it"
When you're out there on your own
You are never alone

You light up the sky to show me you are with me.

As I waited to take off on the runway for my flight home for Christmas yesterday, I was amazed by the most beautiful combination of my favorite pastel colors in the sky. It was truly incredible and I thought to myself it can't get much better than this. Not more than 10 minutes later, I glanced out the window again and was overwhelmed by an even more beautiful skyline. Probably one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen and I heard a voice within me say, "My child, just like the sunsets, even when you think you have seen the most perfect sky or reached your best of days, I have greater things than you can imagine yet to come."

Friends, we never know what tomorrow will bring, but we can rest assured that there will always be greater things yet to come. Keep the faith. God is with you and just as he paints the sky more beautiful with each day, so shall he do with your life. It won't always be rainbows and sunshine but the dark days make the beautiful ones that much brighter.



The Hanger Clinic

As I sit here on the plane, returning home from a week at the Hanger Clinic in Gig Harbor, Washington, I am reminded of how fortunate I truly am. It was an incredible week - not only did I receive my backup IDEO device, but I met a few amazing IDEO athletes- some military, others civilians, but all with a story of strength and the will not to let their injury be the end of their story.

I've said this before, but I'll say it again, you don't meet many people like Ryan Blanck in life. Someone who truly cares about helping people and who goes above and beyond what is required of him. I've never met a more selfless person. Being at the Hanger Clinic felt like family - a place where you are not seen as different; a place where people don't tell you to slow down because you are injured, but a place where you are inspired to be the best you can be.

The Hanger Clinic is a place where you are not seen for how your injury limits you, but for how it makes you stronger.