Our 15-year-old son, Bradley, recently had to get a new pair of hiking boots. Besides outgrowing his old ones, they were coming apart at the seams. During his 21-month stay at Fair Play Wilderness Camp, he hiked and canoed over 320 miles and went through about 6 pairs of boots. While there, his trips included canoeing the Edisto River and the James River in Virginia; and hiking the Chattooga Trail and 90 miles on the Appalachian Trail. He came home from Fair Play for good last July. During this last year, he has also enjoyed several hiking trips with his Boy Scout Troop.

Today Bradley leaves for a 33-mile hike on the Chattooga Trail with Fair Play. He is so excited. It will bring him full circle with his trips so far, as the Chattooga was his first hiking trip after he started Fair Play Wilderness Camp in October of 2013. We cannot say enough good things about the Camp. Our family is still on a journey, but the staff of Fair Play Wilderness Camp has been a life-changing part of it.

When Bradley got his new boots, he gave me a lesson on boot care. “Mom, first you let them sit in the sun to open the pores of the leather. After that, you use saddle soap on them and polish them. Then, you add mink oil or wax to seal them. If you don’t do this, the boots will show the effects of where you’ve been.”

As he told me this, it occurred to me that sometimes it’s a good thing to show the effects of where we’ve been. He and I talked about it. Our faith is strengthened by climbing our steepest mountains. And nothing compares with being at the top of a mountain that God has helped you climb. That view with Him is simply breathtaking and speaks peace to your heart that passes all understanding. It is in the valleys where we struggle that we learn to look up. We learn perseverance by battling life’s raging rivers and courage by maneuvering through the scary obstacles placed in front of us. When we’ve had our hardest days, even when the heat is turned up or the winter is the coldest, we can rest comfortably in God’s arms. He comforts us so we can comfort others. When we experience the hard times that others experience, our compassion for them grows. When we experience the majesty of God’s creation, we become overwhelmed by His goodness and love for us. These lessons can only be learned one step at a time.

Bradley is ready for his next adventure. He’s packed and eager to go. He got through all the steps with his new boots except for sealing them. If they are a little worse for the wear after this trip, if they show the effects of where he’s been, it will be okay. Sometimes we all need a little reminder of the good work God’s doing in our lives.

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 1:6

You shall walk in all the way which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess. Deuteronomy 5:33

Dear Lord: Thank You that You never give up on us, that You love us too much to leave us the way that we are. Thank You for guiding us, molding us, growing us, and getting us through the trials and tests of our lives. Those who walk with you always reach their destination. Help us to be found faithful and committed and never grow weary in the journey. It is our prayer that others would be blessed along the way by the effects of where we’ve been, and may You receive all the glory and honor because it is You who gets us through it all. Amen

Are there valleys and challenges the Lord has brought you through? What lessons and gifts have you experienced on the journey? We would love for you to share your thoughts and comments with us. Please reply below.

Thank you for reading and sharing my posts. May God walk with you and bless you daily as you journey through this life.