Today, a girl from my high school passed away from leukemia. She was one of the most genuinely kind people I’ve ever had the pleasure of talking to - one of those people that everyone loves because not to love them would be ridiculous, with all the love they give you. She certainly didn’t deserve this hardship.

Earlier this year, my best friend’s mother passed away from Ovarian cancer. When she was initially diagnosed, 8 years earlier, you know what she said? She said that she felt privileged that the Lord had chosen her to bear this suffering. That is true faith - true bravery.

I know this is a horse blog, but I felt the need to recognize these two women for their bravery and their strength and their overwhelming faith in God throughout the hard battles they had to face. Though many would say they lost, I would say they won. They won because they have done exactly what the verse said: “I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7). They have won, because with God, one can never lose.

I think what these two women have taught me is that God is always going to give you questions to ask - he is always going to put obstacles in front of you to test your faith. And sometimes, he won’t give you the answers to the questions. Because if you have all the answers, it’s no longer faith. It’s fact. And we’re asked to have faith in God, not to believe it because it’s rational and easy to prove through fact and reasoning.

These women truly fought a good fight. They ran brave, brave, brave races. And sometimes that’s all we can ever hope to do: run a brave race.

Rest in peace Christian Bryant and Dr. Corina Carroll. You will never be forgotten.