Lesson
This from Marlene Smith
A 91-year-old woman died after living a very long dignified life. When she
met God, she asked Him omething that had really bothered her for a very long
time. "If Man was created in God's image, and if all men are created equal,
why do people treat each other so badly?"
God replied that each person who enters our life has a unique lesson to
teach us. It is only through these lessons that we learn about life, people
and our relationships with God.
This confused the woman, so God began to explain "When someone lies to you,
it teaches you that things are not always what they seem. The truth is often
far beneath the surface. Look beyond the masks people wear if you want to
know what is in their hearts. Remove your own masks to let people know who
you really are.
When someone steals from you it teaches you that nothing is forever. Always
appreciate what you have. You never know when you might lose it. Never take
your friends or family for granted, because today and sometimes only this
very moment is the only guarantee you may have.
When someone inflicts injury upon you, it teaches you that the human state
is a very fragile one. Protect and take care of your body as best as you
can, it's the one thing that you are sure to have forever.
When someone mocks you, it teaches you that no two people are alike. When
you encounter people who are different from you, do not judge them by how
they look or act, instead base it on the contents of what is in their
hearts.
When someone breaks your heart, it teaches you that loving someone does not
always mean that the person will love you back. But don't turn your back on
love, because when you find the right person, the joy that one person brings
you will make up for all of your past hurts times a thousand fold.
When someone holds a grudge against you, it teaches you that everyone makes
mistakes. When you are wronged, the most virtuous thing you can do is
forgive the offender without pretense. Forgiving those who have hurt us is
often the most difficult and painful of life's experiences, but it is also
the most courageous thing a person can do.
When a loved one is unfaithful to you, it teaches you that resisting
temptation is Man's greatest challenge. Be vigilant in your resistance
against all temptations. By doing so, you will be rewarded with an enduring
sense of satisfaction far greater than the temporary pleasure by which you
were tempted.
When someone cheats you, it teaches you that greed is the root of all evil.
Aspire to make your dreams come true, no matter how lofty they may be. Do
not feel guilty about your success, but never let an obsession with
achieving your goals lead you to engage in malevolent activities.
When someone ridicules you, it teaches you that nobody is perfect. Accept
people for their merits and be tolerant of their flaws. Do not ever reject
someone for imperfections over which they have no control."
Upon hearing the Lord's wisdom, the old woman became concerned that there
are no lessons to be learned from man's good deeds. God replied that Man's
capacity to love is the greatest gift He has. At the root of kindness and
love, and each act of love also teaches us a lesson.
The woman's curiosity deepened.
God, once again began to explain "When someone loves us, it teaches us love,
kindness, charity, honesty, humility, forgiveness, acceptance, and all of
these can counteract all the evil in the world. For every good deed, there
is one evil deed. Man alone has the power to control the balance between
good and evil,
but because the lessons of love are not taught often enough, the power is
too often abused.
When you enter someone's life, whether by plan, chance or coincidence,
consider what your lesson will be. Will you teach love or a harsh lesson of
reality? When you die, will your life have resulted in more loving or more
hurting? More comfort or more pain? More joy or more sadness? Each one of us
has the power over the balance of the love in the world. Use it wisely!"
Don't miss an opportunity to nudge the world's scale in the right direction!