Hearty and Better or Hearty and Bitter

In her book, Legacy of a Pack Rat, Ruth Graham tells the story of fishermen who would bring in their catch. The fish were often flabby having been caught several days before. There was one man whose fish were still fresh and firm, not flabby. He wouldn't share how he achieved this but after he passed away his daughter shared his secret for success. He would put catfish in the well of the ship where he kept the fish he caught. The catfish were a constant source of irritation to the other fish ~ thus no flabby fish. She also shared the following quotes.

"Many seem patient when they are not pricked."

Richard Rolle

Ouch! That one hurts.

"Men strive for peace, but it is their enemies that give them strength, and I think if man no longer had enemies, he would have to invent them, for his strength only grows from struggle." 

Zachary Verne ~ in The Lonesome Gods by Louis L'Amour

I had to think a bit harder about this one. Surely peace is preferred but strength does grow from struggle. I think maybe strength is gained because of our enemies, but it does not come from our enemies. One does have to learn to fight and I have found that great strength comes from God, and affords much peace. There is in fact another strength that can be found ~ but one must be careful ~ because with it one usually becomes more like his enemy.   

"Hearty through hardship"

George MacDonald

Hearty and better ~ or ~ hearty and bitter? I think that also comes down to how we choose to view our hardships and what we do with them. Hearty is good ~ but what is paired with it makes a huge difference.