A 91-year-old
woman died after living a very long dignified
life. When she met God, she asked Him something
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!
Author Unknown
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