(Today I am taking an intermission from updating you on the bookshelf project. Let me assure you my man continues to be hard at work on it—but Rome was not built in a day, and neither is this massive bookshelf.)

In the meantime, during our more decent temperature days found me enjoying the walking path in my neighborhood. A couple trees caught my attention. I wish they could talk, because I am certain they each have a story to tell.

The one featured today seems to have been hit with some hard knocks. Look closely and you will see battle wounds—knots up and down the trunk. Not being a tree expert, I cannot explain how they got there. But do appreciate a good tree—the interesting ones catch my attention. My husband, Dave, would say it’s the scarred ones. The gangly unkempt ones reveal the most personality.

Have you had some hard knocks in life? This may surprise you, but the folks that have experienced some kind of hardship or crisis have the most to offer in empathy and compassion to a hurting world. Truth be told—and I strive always to be truthful, everyone has some kind of hurt. But not all are willing to share. That’s too bad, we can learn much from each other.

Recently, Dave and I sat down to a movie night at home. Taking turns picking out the movie, my choice was the story of a favorite comedian.  Some we regret choosing, but this one held me, as I waited for it to get better. Documentary style, she opened up on her already open life.

It is interesting to see a Christian that lives in the entertainment field. They do exist—as this one makes her tragic life story a thing to smile about. She brings laughter and makes her audience feel they are not alone in painful trenches. What she does is possible due to her relationship with Jesus. All the time she points to him as the only thing in this world that makes sense.

As the documentary comes to a close, she is asked if it was all worth it. Her answer was yes and no, it cost her in unspeakable ways. As her life unfolded, she lost security in a father leaving the family, two sibling deaths very close together and a husband that died in what you and I would consider the prime of his life. Add to the mix, a child no longer on speaking terms with her mom.

How could Jesus allow this to happen? He didn’t. Not everyone experiences the same heartaches, but part of this world is to become acquainted with trouble. It is the kind of stuff that makes us hunger for a better life. One where there is no heartache or pain. It exists—in heaven, with Jesus. I cannot stress enough to establish a relationship with him.

In the meantime, bring a smile to a fellow hurting person. Everyone has a story. You have been there, bring hope.