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 themost 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!"