Things happen for a reason

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

Why do things happen for a reason?

Did you ever question why things happen for a reason?  Sometimes life can get brutal,and you wonder why?  I question the reason why things happen, especially when my husband came down with progressive multiple sclerosis.  Within two years, he was unable to walk.  Within five years, he is starting to loose the use of his hands.  I am his caregiver and I have to handle all of the things he cannot do.  For example, his washing, feeding, transporting into a chair, meds, shot injection, catheter care, and bathroom needs.  If I go away anywhere, I have to find someone to help out and take care of him!

So if I look at this experience, from afar, I realize it has taught me a few things.  One of the most important things is patience!  The speed to where I like things to happen, doesn’t always happen, when taking care of him.  Feeding him is a slow process, because his swallowing capabilities have been compromised.  I believe it taught my children more compassion toward people less fortunate than them.

Why things happen for a reason, is a question a lot of people ask themselves.  My neighbor was miserable with her job.  On a job function, she hurt her back, and she had difficulty sitting down on the job.  She was a banker, so a lot of her job dealt with the computer and dealing with people.  Therefore, she sat a lot!  Anyway, she was able to take a paid leave of absence, and go and see a physical therapist and a chiropractor.  During this leave of absence, she was feeling less stress from the job, and the back felt much better!  She then decided to retire earlier than she normally would have, because she felt better mentally, and physically. Maybe the universe was telling her to retire, and she was not paying attention, until she hurt her back.  To this day, my neighbor is a happy retiree, getting involved in community functions, walking, exercising, and keeping herself very busy!

Another friend of mine, ended up watching her daughter’s older dog; while the daughter trained a new puppy at home.  My friend was all by herself, and she had never had a dog before.  She loved the dog!  It gave her companionship and made her feel like she was not so alone when she was home.  My friend said the dog was better than an alarm system!  The dog barked at anyone who came near the house, and my friend thought that was great!  Anyway, the dog passed away, and now my friend is going to get another dog; as she saw the benefits from animal ownership.

Things happen everyday in people’s lives, and I believe they happen for a reason.  I do believe the universe puts adversity in our faces, until we do something about it.  The universe changes circumstances in our lives so we learn to deal with things we normally would have nothing to do with.  If we face up to what needs to be done, I believe things will always get better. Maybe that is why things happen for a reason.