Gail and Tommy Daniel raised their only child, daughter Dana, with enough love, patience, guidance and Christian example that to this day, at 38, Dana bubbles with the enthusiasm of life that will make you jealous.

She loves the Lord with all her heart and truly lives her beliefs everyday. Luckily, she is employed by a Christian-based facility — Shelby Baptist Medical Center — where she is able to freely voice and practice her beliefs.

Dana graduated in 1989 from Thompson High and went on to Samford University, where she received her bachelor’s in biology and sports management.

In 1995, she earned her master of science degree in physical therapy. She received additional education for her specialty in spinal therapy.

From 2000 to 2006, Dana worked in Atlanta as a director of physical therapy for a national company.

Therapy is not her job but her calling.

“Everyone has adversity, but its how you handle it that counts,” she said “God has never left me and I have the promise he never will.”

She is totally into daily witnessing and being happy. She loves to minister and share with people. She belongs to the women’s group at Kingwood.

Dana has a new love in her life. They both attended Samford, are in similar fields — he is a massage therapist — love praise music and they get along beautifully. Christ is their center.

She loves his children and his five-year-old grandchild.

After they began dating, they found out two of their mutual friends had been praying for more than two years for Dana to meet a great Christian man.

Dana has been at Shelby Baptist since November 2008. Her clientele is varied. She sees sports injuries, wreck victims, strokes and work accidents.

Adventures make her happy. White water rafting, golfing in Hawaii, fishing in Alaska, scuba diving and a stay in Costa Rica to learn Spanish were all adventures she’s taken.

Dana is saddened by people who feel hopelessness and are unable to see past their earthly problems in order to grasp the “big picture.”

Dana attributes her radiant smile, Christian confidence and zest for life to the way her parents raised her.

“Ninety percent of our adversity is brought on by poor attitude with only 10 percent contributed to actual circumstances,” she said.

In other words chin up, smile a lot, pray and work through it.

Sandra Thames can be reached by e–mail at bobthames1942@yahoo.com.