One of the hardest things I've ever experienced was watching someone I love go through deep pain, knowing there was nothing I could do to fix it. This became my reality in January 2022 when my son was thrust into a year-long ordeal that tested his faith to the breaking point. As a father, I wanted to step in and solve the problem, but I quickly realized that this was beyond my control. All I could do was offer comfort, support, and trust that God would work through the fire. During that year, my son moved back home and set up a workspace in my studio, and we spent our days working side by side. In many ways, it felt like a taste of heaven—this unexpected gift of time together. We had countless one-on-one conversations, and he bared his heart to me, sharing his struggles, doubts, and the overwhelming weight of his suffering. It was a time of deep honesty and connection, something I will cherish forever, especially as I navigate my own journey with Parkinson's disease. Life seems more precious now than ever. At one point, my son asked me what I thought about everything he was going through. I told him that the pain, while hard to endure, was worth it for the intimacy, honesty, and love that had grown between us. That may sound selfish, but it was the truth. Our relationship deepened in a way I had never expected, and for that, I was grateful, even in the midst of the hardship. As his birthday approached in July 2022, I wanted to give him something meaningful, something that would remind him of how proud I was of him. The Lord placed a melody and the first verse of a song in my heart, and I recorded it as a gift for him. The song, “Tried by Fire,” became my way of encouraging him as he faced the fire and slowly emerged stronger, even though the trial was still ongoing. Almost exactly a year later, in January 2023, the Lord gave me the second verse to the song. By then, my son had come through the fire, shining like gold. He moved back to the city he now calls home, and I couldn't have been more proud of the way he had faced the challenges with honesty, resilience, and a joyful, adventurous spirit. “Tried by Fire” became not just a song, but a testimony to his strength, his growth, and God's faithfulness. This whole experience reminded me of Psalm 26:2, which says, “Examine me, Lord, and put me to the test; refine my mind and my heart.” My son's trial was a refining process—one that tested his faith, his mind, and his heart. And while it was painful, both for him and for me, it brought forth something beautiful: a deeper relationship with God, a stronger character, and a closer bond between us as father and son. As I reflect on this journey, I am reminded that the fires we face are never without purpose. God uses them to refine us, to strengthen our faith, and to draw us closer to Him and to those we love. It's not about avoiding the flames, but about trusting that God is with us in the midst of them, bringing us through to the other side, shining like gold. If you're walking through a fire right now—or if you're standing beside someone who is—take heart. God is working, even when you can't see it. The refining process may be painful, but it's leading to something greater. Like my son, you, too, can emerge from the fire stronger, more joyful, and ready to extend love to others along the way. May this story and song encourage you today to trust God's refining work in your life, and may you come out of the fire shining with His glory.