As a young boy, my life was not all that different from any other kid’s. Though I might have thought otherwise, that I was unique in that I had problems no one else did, time has long since taught me that my childhood was not entirely unique.

As children we never really understand the complexities of love and relationships. We are taught at a very young age that it is ok to lie and we learn this because most parents lie to their kids almost as soon as the child is able to recognize people in their life. Then come one day in December, in 2^nd Grade at school when little Billy tells you Santa Claus does not exist, never did, and that your parents lied to you about him. That moment in life is likely the first traumatic event that a child faces. The realization that, after confronting their parents, they have been lied to by the people they love and needed and trusted the most.

I’m lucky in that I had a Grandfather, who would sit me on his lap, and ground me. I don’t mean that he would lock me in my bedroom for the weekend; no, as a 7 year old boy, he would talk to me, one-on-one, as if I was an adult. Passing on the principles that his Grandfather passed on to him and giving me the one thing no one could ever take from me. Integrity. Only I could give that up, but considering the man that gave it to me, I never will.

So it was no surprise that when my parents decided to go separate ways that it did not take me long to get over it. I remember crying for a couple of days then I think I sort of quickly went on my way. After all Santa wasn’t real anymore so what was the big deal.

I think perhaps though, my Grandmother had told me sometime before, that everything happens for a reason. So it was one day when I was over sitting at the kitchen table in Grandma’s house when I had asked her why my parents were not going to live together anymore. I remember she tried telling me a number of reasons as to why this was happening. Thinking about it, I believe she may have been quite uncomfortable being confronted with such a question coming from an 8 year old. However, again, I remember her reassuring me that ‘everything happens for a reason’.

And she was right. You see, my parents going separate ways has brought new people into my life. I met someone I would later call my step-father, and he is such a wonderful person, and I can’t imagine what life would have been like, or where I would be today had I not had him in my life.

My dad too. He would bring people into my life that I am truly blessed to have known. My step-mother is such a wonderful, kind woman who always thinks of others before herself. When I see her, I see God reaching out to those around her.

Everything happens for a reason.

Sometimes those reasons elude us. I have faced challenges in my life that I cannot explain. I have seen horrible things that no one should ever have to deal with. However, those challenges I have faced were too part of His plan. Over the years I have found that I can deal with a lot of personal adversity. I seem to be able to absorb it and let it dissolve and escape over time. I know that some of the things I have had to deal with in my past many others could never cope with; that it would have had traumatic consequence to their lives and the lives of those around them. So, by happenstance, He would see to it that I was there to deal with it.

Because I was at the right place at the right time, I know, personally, some mother was able to continue raising her children as though nothing bad had ever happened. One family saved, because everything happens for a reason.

Recently, I was dealt a new challenge. A personal one where I could have easily chosen the selfish path, and no one would have thought the less of me, because it would have been the right path, for me, and perhaps all involved.

Yet I did not; I took the path of self-sacrifice, and brought happiness into the life of someone fighting darkness and sadness at a time when that person needed compassion and happiness in their life.

My choice was the right choice. As Grandma said ‘Everything happens for a reason’ however, this time, I do wait for Him to reveal what that reason might be.

But that is what life is all about. Living, and not knowing what may lay ahead. We all are given paths in life and we must chose which path to take. Yes, quite often we might pick the wrong path and pay for it, but doing so provides us with the wisdom and knowledge we need so that we can go back and take that other path.

And that is part of life. When you wake up in the morning, you never know where that day is going to take you. Take it, live it, even if it has you retracing your steps, because regardless how far back you walk, you will eventually find a new path to follow, and perhaps that path is the one you are meant to follow. Everything happens for a reason after all.