Life Is Hard, But We Can Overcome

Life is hard.

Sometimes it can feel downright unbearable. It is in those times our faith is tested, even getting close to being shattered in to tiny pieces.

The drought in Southwest Kansas, Oklahoma Panhandle, Southeast Colorado and the Panhandle of Texas is one of those life tests that has been hitting particularly hard of late. No rain in sight  as yet to relieve those conditions, which have been accompanied by high winds - a recipe for disaster when fire is added in the mix.

Friday, I woke to learn not only about the fires, but just how personal they had become. My cousin's husband, a firefighter in Southeast Colorado, was responding to a fire when the water tanker truck he was driving blew a tire.  The truck rolled. He was flown out to Colorado Springs, Colo.,  and is still there now.

The town of Campo, Colo., was evacuated and in danger of perishing from the flames there. I'm related to a big percentage of the community.

A grandson of mine lives in Meade, Kan., where flames were threatening that small community.

And a daughter and her family and some cousins and their families, as well as a very good friend, all live in Amarillo, Texas, where flames were ravishing the nearby community of Canyon, Texas, and parts of outlying Amarillo.

So like many, I felt the flames were closing in on those I care about and so many more whom I have never met.

Two firefighters in Guymon, Okla., where I currently live, were injured responding to help with fires  when their emergency vehicle crashed.

So many have lost their homes, livestock, thousands of acres of grassland have been burned.

But through it all, as my grandma would say, there has still been a rainbow. Sometimes, we just have to look a little harder, see the bigger picture in the story line.

What is the rainbow here?

The communities affected by these wildfires and their "neighbors" in adjoining communities and even states, have done - without hesitation - what needed to be done. They pulled together. They sent supplies. People came to help. They prayed.

It is times like these that test our very fiber.

Times like these where we discover just how much strength we have and when we falter - times we find right there beside us is the strength to move forward.

Life is hard.

It will test us to the point of breaking.

But, it will also teach us there are still good people out there.

There are still selfless individuals who rush in where others will run away.

A big part of those who rush in are known as first responders. Some are firefighters, like my cousin's husband. And like their son was who passed away in October 2025.

Firefighters who respond without question, giving up time with their own families, time from their work, time meant for sleep. And yes, even time away when they could be protecting their own.

Firefighters, many of whom are volunteers, and rush in with no pay for their efforts. They do it because they care about their communities.

Farmers who play a vital role by getting out with their tractors and other equipment to help combat  rural wildfires. They utilize their heavy machinery to create firebreaks, supplying water with tanker trailers, and providing local knowledge to first responders. Farmers who themselves area a first line of defense helping protect land and communities.

Pilots who aid in wildfire suppression by supporting ground crews to slow  the fire's spread, by dropping water or chemical retardant to build fire lines. They also may deploy smoke jumpers, provide aerial reconnaissance, and coordinate airspace to create safe working zones for firefighters on the ground.

Law enforcement who help provide security to maintain the scene, assist with evacuations when necessary, direct traffic away from the area, and assist with protecting firefighters from other dangers, so they can focus on the flames they are battling.

EMS who provide on-site medical triage, treat those who are suffering from smoke inhalation and burns. They monitor firefighters watching for exhaustion and heatstroke. When necessary they are there to transport other first responders and citizens to hospitals. In rural areas, many EMS also serve as collection points for much needed water, snacks and other staples needed by those fighting the blaze.

Community members who come together collecting needed supplies and more.

And everyone who gets down on their knees and prays.

Recent wildfires have been devastating, but they have also served as a reminder of the blessings we have all around us - our rainbows in the eye of the storm or even in the eye of the flames.

Life is hard.

But we do not walk the challenges and trials alone. Sometimes it may seem that way, but maybe it's because we aren't paying attention to who is there beside us.

Life is hard.

But, there are rainbows to be found even in the darkest of storms. Even in the deadliest of circumstances. Sometimes, we just have to open our eyes to see.

It will test us to our very core. But if we work together. If we think about more than just ourselves - we will come out stronger. We will overcome the trials.

There are so many opportunities out there for us to be someone's rainbow.  For us to make a difference.

We can overcome if we do it together.