Do you believe the saying - “Everything happens for a reason?” What do you think? Can it really be true? Take a moment to reflect and think of some of the major or minor events or things that happened to you over the years. Can you truly say that everything happens for a reason?

Mrs. Marilyn Hodge

Lots of things happen to us that challenge our sense that everything happens for a reason. However, whether you believe it or not, it is important for us to note that there is significance in every event of our lives, from the most joyful and empowering to the inexplicable or seemingly unjust. It is for us to discover the meaning in what has happened to us, and see those experiences as gifts, lessons and opportunities.

It is also important to realize that no matter what happens to us, not only does something valuable come out of it but it's just what we probably need at the moment. Disappointments, failures, tragedies and dead ends all provide an opportunity to ask ‘why?’ and become a victim or to ask ‘what next?’ and cooperate with God about the next phase of our life. Even the worst situations sometimes have provided us with wonderful gifts, hidden opportunities, or life-enhancing lessons that we couldn't have gotten any other way – blessings in disguise.

Think about your life experiences for a while - an illness, death of a loved one, a broken relationship, a job loss, a failing economy or a wayward child. These all produce much stress, grief and agony but they can also hold nuggets of gold. Things happen at times that just leave us in wonderment, shock or dumb struck and all we can ask is why? Why does that have to happen? Why me? The question we should ask at times is why not me? What lessons, opportunities or gifts do these situations hold for me?

You see, it is all about our attitude. It makes all the difference. The search for meaning is perhaps the most definitive aspect of our humanness. Everyone longs to find or make meaning of their lives and particularly the difficulties of their lives. It is painful when we have to go through the many challenges in life, but looking back sometimes we can see and understand that there was meaning in what has happened and discovering what that meaning was, made all the difference. When we are able to turn around a negative situation and make the outcome positive, we should feel like we have accomplished the most wonderful, glorious task of all.

So often, good things come out of bad or sad situations. Growth occurs and lessons learned benefit not only you at times but also others as well and open your, or their, eyes to a world of possibilities. Think about all the people who came in and out of your life over the years, and the various points at which they came and left, and what happened next. Its amazing isn’t it? People come into our lives at the right time to fulfill a desired purpose. This may be to teach us to love, for us to learn to be compassionate, to guide us along a difficult path that we have taken, or to pass on their knowledge to us. Things do happen for a reason isn’t it?

It is a complicated world we live in. Things are so complex that usually we cannot see the end of the line. We do not know why events occur. It is only in hindsight we can truly see what has happened, and what could possibly happen. Sometimes a minor event could have a huge impact a few weeks later. It is impossible to foretell the future. The point is, though, if you took a look at different events in your past life, you will see that many of them contributed to making you the person you are today.
Nobody can explain the complexity of every life's circumstances. We tend to blame other people for whatever misfortunes we have. We can easily pinpoint others; blame ourselves and, worst, blame God for all that is happening in our lives. We tend to forget that everything happens for a reason. We may not know now but, in the right time, we will know it, we will see and we will understand. So it is important to remember, despite our circumstances, we should live one day at a time.
Life is short so make everyday count. Let us appreciate the good times and how fortunate we are for our irreplaceable experiences. All of our challenges and obstacles have been opportunities to realize our potential, strengths and to put meaning into our lives.
The good that comes out of the bad things that happen to us is to help us become our best, and to fulfil God’s purpose in our lives. Don’t live in the past but always learn from it. Successes and downfalls that we are experiencing can create who we are today. Experiences that we have, good or bad, teach us important lessons in life. These are the most important things that we need to learn in order for growth to take place.
There will be times in life and in business that we will struggle, times we will feel victimized or that we will have been treated unfairly. Believe this, every single instance of life’s unfairness to us has a reason behind it. It’s a very effective strategy to examine the situation. We will find the reason pretty easily, so we can then get back on track and into action, stronger, wiser and better-prepared than before.
Here is a poem that should inspire us:-

Everything Happens For A Reason
Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be, your neighbor, your coworker, a long lost friend, or a complete stranger. When you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way.

Sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart. Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck.

Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become.
Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones.

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious when you open your heart. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen.

Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you.

You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets.
Most importantly if you Love someone tell him or her, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store.
Learn a lesson in life each day that you live. That's the story of Life.
- Unknown Author

Remember - whatever does not kill you makes you stronger. Be thankful everyday for all the things that is happening in your life.

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