Week 6 of 2026: Gathering the Strength to Climb

This week was hard. Yet, I grew. I adapted quickly. I grew up with a pastor for a father. One of the songs we would hear comes to mind often. In church, one of the elderly mothers would take her time and stand up and with or without a microphone, she would sing, “Lord! You don’t have to move my mountains. Just give me the strength to climb….” The song gives me a feeling of peace and comfort even to this day. That song translates into empowerment. That’s an acknowledgement that you are the owner of your issues, and you will have the power to overcome them. So, whether you are spiritual or not, there are those times where you need to gather your strength, stand up, and press onward and upward.  

Even though we are individuals, my family often move as a unit. Navigating life’s mountains is what we do. Defying every obstacle that we have faced over the last few decades has not been easy. There is strength in our support of each other and courage in our eyes. I’ve found there is a fearlessness that comes with having so many brothers and sisters and a father who only asks, “how can I help?”  I’m as excited as ever for the path ahead.