The Scriptures apprise us that, “Blessed is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding, for the reward is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.” (Proverbs 3:13-14 NIV)
Wisdom gained from life lessons can sometimes be hard, but they can become profitable if becomes applied wisdom.
I’m reminded of a story about a little bird who didn’t fly south soon enough for the winter. It wound up on the ground, slowly freezing to death. When things looked really dim, a cow happened by and dropped a big warm cow pie on the little bird. The warmth of the cow pie revived the little bird, who felt so good he stuck his head out and began to sing. A fox coming by heard the singing and snatched the little bird up and swallowed him.
The moral of the story is that everyone who dumps on you isn’t necessarily your enemy, and everyone who pulls you out of a crappy situation isn’t necessarily your friend.
Let's face it; friends make life a lot more fun. I can’t even imagine where I would be today were it not for some close friends who have given me a heart full of joy. We were made to be in relationship, and relationships are important, but they aren’t always easy. We live in a wonderful world, but sometimes things happen. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if people are helping or hurting us when our world is turned upside down, and it’s true that everyone who pulls us out of a difficult situation isn’t always doing the best thing for us.
The reality is we can’t change our past and we can’t change that people act a certain way and we can’t change the unavoidable. What we can control and shape however, is our attitude in which we face what happens. There’s an element of truth in Charles Swindoll’s statement, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” Our perspective on what happens to us will determine how successful we are in handling them.
What we can do is observe, learn, and pass on to others what we have learned through the school of life.
Five of my favorites include: 1) Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present. 2) Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 3) Time heals almost everything. Give time time. 4) Believe in Miracles. Miracles are waiting everywhere. 5) God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
And don’t forget this life lesson coming from the assuring words of Jesus in John 16:33: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Because He has overcome, we as Christ followers can also overcome in and through Him!
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