Trials and tribulations, challenging times, tough situations, and the ever-present “why me”? Such is this journey called life. Though hindsight is 20/20, many times when an opportunity disguised as a problem is in front of us, our forward vision suddenly becomes very blurry; and that molehill appears like a big, bad, burly, un-climbable Mount Everest. While it may be just our perception, for nothing is truly good or bad, but thinking makes it so; it often becomes our reality. When this happens, how often does the little voice in our head cry out, “why me”?
I remember as a young adult asking my mother about her life. At that time, she was figuratively stuck in the La Brea tar pits of living. From an outsider’s perspective, it looked bleak. She was facing both physical and mental challenges that would wipe out most people. Physically, she had high blood pressure, diabetes, was severely overweight, nearly had her foot amputated, and a smoking habit that was destroying her health. Mentally, she was dealing with an extremely stressful job, going through a divorce from my father, whom she had been married to for nearly 30 years, along with the mental pain and feelings of complete failure. Not a great moment in time by any standard… or was it?
During this time, I was amazed at how resilient she seemed despite all her many challenges. It was her natural way of being for as long as I had known her. Without a doubt, she was the strongest woman I’ve ever personally known. Even when everything looked like it was falling apart, she always held her head high and kept going. When speaking on the phone with her, I remember asking how she managed it all. I’ll never forget her response.
“Bretty,” she said, “To whom much is given, much is expected. God will never give you more than you can handle. However, He is also very careful about whom He gives the greatest challenges.”
Baffled, I asked her what she meant, to which she responded, “Some of us are put here on earth to do great things and make a big difference during our lifetime. We are built to withstand the tribulations so we can be an example to others. Though I may not have achieved everything I wanted to in my lifetime, I believe that my greatest achievement will be my children. I bear these burdens so you don’t have to and will learn that greater is He who is within you than he that is in the world. To whom much is given, much is expected.”
That was probably the most important lesson my mother ever taught me. The irony is that she died unexpectedly a few months after that conversation.
Looking back (with 20/20 vision, of course), I realize it was the first time I began to see the value of challenges. Without them, we don’t grow. A diamond isn’t the most precious stone because it is easy to make. Nothing worthwhile ever is. When we understand how challenges benefit us, we can start to view them through a completely different perspective—one that recognizes the true gift they offer.
If you are experiencing opportunity disguised as challenges in your life, then congratulations! As my mother shared with me, I’ll pass on to you: God will never give you more than you can handle. And if your challenges seem extremely large, then buckle up for the ride of your life. That means you are up to something HUGE!
19 days from today, on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm CST at Gallery Guichard, located at 436 East 47th St., Chicago, IL 60653, I am excited to launch my second book, LARGER THAN LIFE, thirty years after my first book, USA Wrestling Coach’s Guide to Excellence. It took me over a year to write and a lifetime to learn how to build a life you love.
LARGER THAN LIFE: In Pursuit of Discovering Your Full Potential is more than a book; it’s a blueprint for building a legacy. This transformative guide is created for purpose-driven individuals who are ready to rise above mediocrity and achieve extraordinary success. Through seven timeless principles, readers are guided to embrace key distinctions that separate the average from the impactful.
This is a step-by-step guide to discovering your full potential, helping anyone willing, able, and hungry enough to follow in the footsteps of those who came before us, thereby becoming LARGER THAN LIFE. Eternal thanks go out to everyone who has contributed to my life, making this book possible. I am excited to take the baton and pay it forward to the world at large.
To whom much is given, much is expected. Thank you for setting an example for us all. I’m looking forward to seeing you there!
Be Larger Than…
