Consider those across our country or across the world who are caught up in terrorism or war actions, or struggling because of tornadoes, floods or other various tragic events. The headlines make it easier for us to be aware of these. For most, they don't choose the bad things impacting them, they just happen.
Now reflect on the aspects of those times when we have to make decisions - and compare those to the above or those things that we don't choose or don't want? Unfortunately, sometimes we don't get to chose. Today you can via the following test. First, choose any three from the following:
_ premature birth due to complications _ aborted at 12 weeks _ being born healthy _ being born with multiple birth defects | _ growing up with not enough food and die by the age of 3 _ being in a car accident at 2 and losing both parents _ growing up with loving parents and in a good home | _ afraid to go to school because of a bully or teasing _ can't sleep at night because your parents are fighting _ your Mom and Dad get divorced |
_ playing sports and doing well in school _ running away from home and becoming a teenage prostitute _ driving and texting, causing an accident and killing a young mother and her 8 week old baby son _ being paralyzed in a car crash at age 17 | _ join our military and being horribly injured while deployed _ being deployed, caught in a fire fight and your buddy dies _ getting laid off from your dream job _ getting married a having kids | _ no job _ no peace _ no friends _ no future _ no worries _ no faith _ no luck |
_ walking home after a party and being raped _ having a brain tumor and die at age 33 _ not able to have children but you adopt a child _ married with kids and having a job you hate _ becoming addicted to drugs or alcohol _ living an unfulfilled life | _ loosing your spouse at age 42 _ dying of cancer at age 55 _ loosing your daughter, her husband and their three children because of a plane crash _ loosing your faith _ being blessed |
_ life is hard, sometimes we're lucky and sometimes not - it is what it is.
_ life is a mix of the good and the bad, I can't control all things so I will pursue my faith and trust God.
_ life is full of unknowns so I'm just going to do the best I can and try to be a good person.
In closing, all the above was shared to get us to think about all the things we can or can not choose (and yes there are so many other nuances in life). Being a good person doesn't guarantee you'll have a happy life. Being a Christian doesn't guarantee you will not have struggles. We may not understand why bad things happen to good people but we can trust God in all things. Have you tried trusting in Him?