Surviving to Thriving

As I write this my mind is full of images from 20 years ago when two planes were flown into the World Trade Center buildings on September 11. I am currently watching a documentary that interviews and tells the stories of many survivors of this tragic event.

You see, to some extent we are all survivors. “Survive” is defined as “to continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or hardship.” As children we were all taught basic survival skills—some
came more naturally than others. Do not play in the street, you might get run over. That one is fairly simple. You might also have been taught how to hunt for food and even how to grow your own
food. These can be seen as survival skills.

We all also face hardship of various sorts. Maybe you were raised in a single parent home. Maybe you didn’t make the sports team. Maybe you suffered the loss of a loved one. Hardships are a way of life, no one is insulated or immune.

Thriving, on the other hand, is not being satisfied just surviving. Thriving is living and thinking abundantly.

A thriving mindset is defined by continually challenging oneself. To be a better person. To be a better spouse, parent, child or friend. To be more understanding, more supportive or just be present more. Challenging yourself to be more committed, to be the solution to the problem.

To thrive we must look up!

As you read through this Messenger, you will see stories of survivors. Survivors that have faced challenges and trials. Survivors, that due to no fault of their own, found themselves in difficult situations, much like those that survived the devastation on 9-11. But at some point, we must all move past the survival mentality so that we can thrive.

You will read Judy’s story. Judy and her six children were welcomed into our Homes for Families program as a family that learned to have a survival mentality. Judy shares that it was difficult in the beginning but so worth it in the end. You will also see Isabel’s story. Isabel is a special young lady that overcame almost insurmountable odds and recently graduated college with her MBA. The interesting similarity in their stories is they both found the key to go from surviving to thriving was God!

Here at STCH Ministries, we are blessed to believe in those we serve more than they believe in themselves. We serve an awesome God who is working out His masterplan. Let me be clear, that doesn’t mean that the path will always be smooth. What it does mean, is no matter our situation, He is with us.

Thank you for taking time to read our Messenger and for your
support and prayers!

Psalm 145:14 in The Message translation says, “God gives a hand to
those down on their luck, gives a fresh start to those ready to quit.”

“You cannot change your destination overnight,
but you can change your direction overnight.”
– Jim Rohn