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,

then 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 relationship 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 have till the end of your life.

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!

And always remember: There is a reason behind everything that God does.

-Author Unknown!