Lesson #8

Lesson #8: Bad things happen to good people. Now, this may seem like an obvious lesson...that's because it is. Bad things happen to good people ALL the time. Except why is it kind of different when the bad things happen to the ones you love?

A good friend gave me a copy of an interview with Rick Warren. Here is an excerpt of what he says:

"I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for."

Sometimes it is hard to believe that bad things do happen to good people. But I know it does. Erica and Felix - great parents, don't drink, didn't go out on the weekends and leave Juliana and Zavier to go out to a club or bar (and they are fairly young :)). Juliana goes to tumbling class, CCD class; they even have fight nights and watch UFC together, they go offroading in their jeep. They have their little family here in Houston, no other family members here in Houston before I got here. They do everything together, mostly everything. If Juliana was not with Felix, she was with Erica. A strong, solid family.

Bad things happen. Losing Zavier feels like "bad" doesn't even cover it; doesn't even scratch the surface. Not a bit.

I have learned that bad things happen to good people. But I will never fully understand why.

Rick Warren also says this, "God is more interested in your character than your comfort. God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy...

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD."