When I was a kid, I absolutely loved going to the fair. In my mind, it was a night of fun adventure. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.

A few years back, we were visiting friends in another state. One evening, they took us to their local fair. I was so excited and we were having fun until we walked by the Ferris wheel.

My daughter Sara and our friends’ daughter, Brenda, wanted to ride it, but they were nine years old and needed an adult to ride with them. It was a very tall Ferris wheel. There was no way I was getting on that thing. Brenda’s father volunteered to ride with them. He sat in the middle with his arms wrapped around each girl’s shoulders. At first, I was so relieved.

Then the young man operating the Ferris wheel stopped it to let on some people. I couldn’t help but notice their passenger car was stuck on the very top during that time. I knew Sara didn’t mind and I assumed the others didn’t either.

Boy, was I wrong.

When their car came back down, Brenda was crying. I thought she would be all right since she was sitting next to her father. Nope. The next time their car circled back around, she wasn’t just crying; she was squalling.

As we say around here, “Bless her little heart.”

I could so understand her fear and discomfort. If it was me on that ride, I wouldn’t be just crying. Oh no, I would also be hysterically screaming in terror every time the passenger car swayed.

When the operator saw she was crying, he stopped the ride to let her get off, but she wouldn’t do it. Again, if that had been me, I would have jumped out of that car as soon as it stopped. And I would have kissed the ground not matter how nasty it was from the fair traffic.

As their passenger came back around, I could see Brenda was still upset. Again, he stopped the Ferris wheel and asked her if she wanted to get off. As tears streamed down her flushed face, she refused to disembark.

My pity for Brenda changed to admiration for her.

“And patience, experience, and experience, hope:” Romans 5:4 (KJV)

It’s easier to give up than it is to endure in adversity. But what do you gain by giving up too soon. By continuing on through diversity, you build strength from the experience. And that strength will lead to hope. So, keep praying and always press forward.

For the record, I have ridden a Ferris wheel. When I was seven years old, I rode the kiddie Ferris wheel at the TVA&I Fair. It was about 15 feet high and the passenger car was completely enclosed. If I had the chance to ride it now, I would have to pray about it first. But then again, I probably couldn’t fit into that car any more.