Rejoicing in Tribulation

I'm a second generation Christian. My parents taught me so much about God, the Bible, staying in church, tithing, having a relationship with God, good morals, good character.....the list goes on. But, being a second generation Christian certainly came with it's own set of issues. I was saved FROM sin, not necessarily OUT of sin. I really never experienced what the world could be like or how it can destroy your life. My parents told me of it's dangers and did everything they could to protect me from it; but it was one of those things I had to find out for myself. Though I was already saved, I went into the world and lived like a lost person for several years making mountains upon mountains of the same mistakes my parent's warned me about.
I'm a hands-on learner. To simply be told (no matter how many times over again) that you will reap what you sow and that sin is only fun for a season was not enough for me. I had to go out and get my own "hands-on" experience only to learn that, yep, they were right. You DO reap what you sow and sin was only fun for a season.
I learned in Sunday School, yesterday, that we are supposed to rejoice in tribulation. At first I did not understand why that was so important. Why should I rejoice and be happy that I'm going through a trial? However, with the trial that was brought upon me due to my own sowing of bad seeds, I'm realizing what it means to rejoice in tribulation. My trial has shown me the true meaning of Christ's love, given me a true and meaningful relationship with God, forced me to stay in God's word and prayer (as it's the only way I would get through each day), allowed me to practice the fruits of the spirit and become a better Christian for it. I would have known non of these things if it wasn't for the trial that God put in my life.
Looking back over the years leading up to today's tribulation, it's interesting to see how God worked everything out in His own timing, making sure that I was fully ready for my lesson. Yes, MUCH has be sacrificed so that I could grow closer to God. I'd give anything to go back in time and force myself to take heed to my upbringing so that today, others were not suffering from my poor decisions. I'm not even completely at the place I should be, either. I struggle daily to find God's meaning in my trial and I'm sure often times letting my own selfishness and emotions guide the way. But, I DO rejoice in this tribulation. I find the things I'm learning through it all to be some of the best gifts I could have ever received. I'm valuing my relationship with God for the first time in possibly ever, I'm appreciating my parent's love for me through all of this more than I could have imagined and I'm finally understanding the amazing blessings that God bestows on His children on a daily basis.