My daughter turned 18 years old yesterday and I am very proud of her. Of course, I’m proud of her because of who she is today, but I am even more proud of her because of how far she has come. She has come through a difficult path in her life and yet I have seen her take steps every year to leave behind the things that could weigh her down. That is a key for all of us to live by. Those of us who follow Christ are urged to do this by Paul in his letter to the Philippians:
Philippians 3:12-14
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
I am so proud of René, and I expect to see even more from her, but I also expect to see more from myself each day. Let’s all press on and encourage one another as the day approaches where we will present ourselves before our Father for approval.
— Sebastian Stroughter
