Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest. –Galatians 6:9
Some resilience isn’t built in a moment. It’s built over decades of care, adaptation, and love.
Denita always wanted children. Her first husband didn’t. That difference eventually led to divorce. Later, she remarried and had a daughter with Down syndrome. From the beginning, Denita poured herself into therapies, support systems, and advocacy. Day after day. Year after year.
Her daughter now thrives in a group home. She’s independent in her own way, and Denita is proud. Recently, Denita’s husband passed away. Another chapter of loss. Another shift in the rhythm of her life.
She’s grieving, yes. But also continuing. Her life has been one long act of love—and now, of renewal.
Resilience is devotion. It’s the grace to keep loving, even as life changes shape.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. –Psalm 46:1
When the center of a family is lost, someone often steps in to hold the pieces together. Sometimes, that someone never expected to be the anchor. But they become it anyway.
Maria’s story is one of these.
She’s a nurse. Her husband worked in healthcare, too. They raised three children together. Then, cancer came—and took him. Her kids were just stepping into adulthood.
Her only son married, and not long after, he passed away from cancer, too. Her oldest daughter had two young children when she was diagnosed with a different kind of cancer. She passed away as well, leaving behind two little ones under the age of eight.
Could Maria have dropped out of life? Absolutely. No one would’ve blamed her. But she didn’t.
She became the steady presence. The anchor. The one who showed up for her daughter’s children, her son-in-law, and the rest of her grieving family.
She didn’t ask for all the roles life handed her. But she embraced them with the fierceness of a mother lion. Her strength became shelter—for everyone else.
Resilience is sometimes quiet. It looks like caregiving, consistency, and love that steadies others. It’s the presence that says, “I’ve got you.” Even when no one says it back.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. –1 Corinthians 13:7
Some battles stretch across years. And some love does, too.
What does a family do when a child is suffering and no one can quite figure out why?
Patrice and her husband spent over a decade trying answer that question. Their eldest daughter, Angela, struggled with an eating disorder that didn’t follow a straight path. They traveled across the country, seeking help, juggling care for their other children. All the while trying to maintain a regular routine.
She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. –Proverbs 31:7
Some resilience is forged in the workplace. Not in big, dramatic moments—but in the quiet, persistent push against systems that weren’t built with you in mind.
Debbie and Donna, twin engineers, stepped into a world where women were often underappreciated and undervalued. One went into construction, the other into electronics. They faced gender discrimination—sometimes subtle, sometimes not. But they kept going.
Debbie built her own consulting firm from the ground up. Donna joined a large manufacturing company and later faced something even harder—the sudden loss of her husband. She was left to raise three children on her own.
Their paths diverged, but their strength was shared. They didn’t just survive. They built, led, and nurtured—teams, families, futures.
Resilience sometimes looks like showing up again. And again. And again.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing a few stories – real faces of resilience. Each post opens with a short reflection or question, followed by a story. Then it closes with a gentle takeaway or invitation. Nothing fancy. Just honest moments and quiet strength.
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair—2 Corinthians 4:8
Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back. It’s about the process. The enduring, adapting, and sometimes simply continuing.
When my friend Richard Kelley shared his poem Undefeated, it stirred something in me. It got me thinking about the quiet warriors I’ve known. Maybe you’ve known a few, too. The ones who’ve faced unimaginable loss and still found a way to live, love, and lead.
This series is for them. For the ones who rise, not with accolades, but with quiet courage and a faith that moves mountains.
I asked Richard if I could share his poem with you, and he graciously said yes. It’s a piece that speaks to the heart of this series—what it means to keep going, even when life tries to knock you down.
Here is his poem:
Undefeated by Richard Kelly Used by permission 10/10/25
Lessons Learned from Chilly Willy: Perseverance Be True To Yourself Resourcefulness Adaptability Resilience
In the 1950s, there was a cartoon character named Chilly Willy. Chilly Willy was an adorable penguin who did not like the cold. He wore a red hat and a scarf. Chilly Willy wanted to escape the cold and head south to a warmer climate.
In this one episode, Chilly Willy is very cold. He starts ripping newspapers and throwing them in the fire to stay warm. One of the newspapers shows an ad for a fur warehouse. He finds the warehouse and spends the next few minutes trying to steal one of the furs. Except there is a “Beware of Dog” sign. Each time the penguin steals a fur, the dog chases him. The dog ends up putting all the furs behind a locked door. Then, Chilly Willy finds a razor and cuts the hair off the dog. He somehow manages to sew the hair together for a coat. The show ends with the dog putting the fur coat on his own tail, and then Chilly Willy’s head pops out of the coat on the tail.
In another episode, Chilly Willy is watching television and sees a commercial for an extreme sports competition where there will be plenty of food. Since he is hungry, he sees this sporting event as an opportunity to gain access to lots of food. Chilly Willy tunnels himself through the gate and competes in ice skating, windsurfing, and skiing events. All the while trying to evade the infamous security guard, Smedley, the dog. Chilly Willy goes on to win three gold medals!
Lesson #1 – Perseverance
Despite his small size, Chilly Willy is tenacious. He keeps at it. He has one goal. To stay warm. He takes risks. We learn from Chilly Willy that even the smallest creatures can achieve great things by focusing on new ideas. It takes persistence and determination for a little penguin to find warmth.
Lesson #2 – Be True To Yourself
Chilly Willy doesn’t behave like other penguins who love the cold. He has a charming personality and overcomes obstacles, even in the face of adversity. He often runs from Smedley, the dog who wants to eliminate the “pesky” penguin.
Lesson #3 – Resourcefulness
Chilly Willy showcases resourcefulness by using creative solutions to overcome challenges. He consistently utilizes resources that are readily available to him. Like turning the newspaper into fuel for warmth. Or turning the dog hair into a fur coat.
Lesson #4 – Adaptability
There is no challenge that Chilly Willy won’t try to overcome. Despite being a penguin, he adapts himself to his surroundings. His character emulates the very humanness of us all. He is vulnerable. He shows emotions. He creates humor when facing challenges. Hopefully, there is a little Chilly Willy in us all.
Lesson #5 – Resilience
Chilly Willy outsmarts Smedley, the dog, every time. But it is challenging. Chilly Willy bounces back from all types of circumstances, like the cat who has nine lives. The cute penguin does not let failures deter his spirit. He moves forward and continues his quest for whatever he seeks, like warmth or food.
So, in honor of Penguin Awareness Day, we salute Chilly Willy. This adorable little creature dressed in a tuxedo gave millions of people mindless laughter as he performed his many antics. If you haven’t met Chilly Willy, I encourage you to watch an episode on YouTube.
Chilly Willy Image Credit: Walter Lantz created character
I and Thou Reflections 
