Two Types of Hard Times

There are two kinds of hard times you will experience in your life. One type is created through the choices you make. You might choose to stay out all night with your friends visiting bars and then be late for work the next day; your boss is tired of your constant lateness so you are fired on the spot. You are suddenly in a real financial crunch due to that. Those are hard times caused by your own choices. As long as you learn something from the experience - it served its purpose.

Then there are hard times that are due to other people's choices. The woman who lost her husband due to a drunk driver is an example. Her husband did nothing wrong, he was the victim of someone else's choice. The people who were killed on 9/11 is another example. The did nothing wrong - they simply went to work that day or took an airline flight. The actions of others caused them harm and many of their loved ones experienced hard times.

It's hard to have faith when you're faced with the injustice of someone you love being taken from you due to simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Many people lose their faith and don't realize losing a loved one or experiencing a hard time in life is meant to be a growing experience. Of course it hurts and you'll always miss them. But you need to set aside your anger, hurt and grief and fill your heart with love and look towards the future.

Many people have found after losing someone or experiencing hard times, they felt the need to help others who might in the same situation get through it. Helping others is what life is all about and when you have hard times - ask for strength and watch for an opportunity to help another person who might be in the same situation, it's one of the best ways to work through your anger and grief and begin living again.
 posted by Friends of Leah