Everything Happens for a Reason

Despite the current condition of our relationship, I am very thankful for lessons I learned from my mother. As early as I can remember, she told me I was someone special. From an imperfect beginning was born an amazing young girl who had a very special purpose.  “Everything happens for a reason” was a phrase I heard throughout my life. It became my own mantra. It helped me believe that there was a reason why I always got pink eye just before school picture day, why I was the tallest kid in class until the boys grew armpit hair, why I didn’t know my biological father, and why people who were different could be punished for just being different. I don’t know how it happened, I don’t remember when it happened, but I do know I have always had the faith that there was a greater plan for each of us and we were not privy to the upcoming details.

As I have grown, I have realized that my open thoughts about being special may have insulted a few people through the years. My heart and soul never intended that. Each of us has our own amazing and special purpose in life. It is up to you to find your gift and use it the best way you can. It is up to each of us to help another. Some moments, we are better at using our gifts than others… and indeed, this is all part of the plan. Each event has a lesson for us to learn, a story to be told, a person to prepare. To me, we are all a great big puzzle meant to come together. Each puzzle piece is different, we are not meant to be compared to one another. Each puzzle piece is interdependent on the others to make something complete.

The more I open my mind, the more my perspective changes. Rev. Wright of Union Baptist Church preached a sermon several weeks ago not feeling well and apologized for not being at his best; his words became everlasting wisdom to me that afternoon. He explained that joy is not an emotion or a state of being, but that joy is a simple gift from God. It is a fruit of the spirit and provides overwhelming comfort and contentment that flood’s the soul of the believer (Gal 5:22, Eph 1:12-14, 4:30). It is our belief that gives us the comfort and contentment of joy. Joy, the middle name my mother gave me. Joy, the contentment even in times of sorrow that has allowed me to believe God has placed me right where I need to be. Joy, while it is not always easy, it is what has allowed me to have gratitude for the lessons of my life.

My worship is diverse as is my life. Just this past Sunday, Pastor Katie McKown from Scottsville Baptist Church preached a sermon titled “We Will Not Keep Silent.” She is an amazing storyteller and provides many visual pearls in her lessons. This week, I heard that each of us has an amazing, special purpose, w are all jewels in a crown. As it is written, we are crowns in the hand of the Lord (Isaiah 62:3). Her sermon pulled together and validated “everything happens for a reason” and that reason is that we are all in process. God’s plan, God’s purpose is that we may walk through the storm and walk through the success with the same faithfulness. I believe it is the process that glorifies God.

Tonight I am thankful for the lessons of three people in my life, my mother, Reverend Wright, and Pastor Katie. Sometimes it takes forty years to learn a lesson. This lesson was a forty year process for me. Tonight, the joy in my spirit, the content in my heart, the faith in the process, may they all be glory to God.