Leadership Thought #207 – Bad Things Do Happen

I opened the paper this morning, and the first thing I saw was a headline about a father who had run over his 3-year-old son when backing out of their driveway. What a tragedy. Every parent fears this scenario. I cannot even fathom how the family is coping with the situation. I only hope and pray that they can find the strength and compassion within themselves to make it through the darkness of their grief.

This incident serves as a poignant reminder that terrible things can happen in life. We may also experience moments that test our emotional and physical fortitude, but we must persevere anyway. There is no other acceptable choice than to be resilient in the face of pain and to overcome adversity, even when it causes deep hurt.

I have no idea why certain things happen in life. It can be hard to comprehend why some families must deal with extreme tragedy while others emerge comparatively unscathed. If you are fortunate enough to have a reasonable amount of time to live your life, then do meaningful work and enjoy the love and company of others. When someone leaves too soon or abruptly, cherish the experiences you had with them, and use this moment to enhance other relationships.

I have no idea what lies beyond this earthly human existence. It is a great unknown. Many people claim to have the answers, but like all great mysteries, we won’t know the truth until we experience it ourselves. All we can do is live our lives in a way that reflects our appreciation that the time we have is finite. Think in terms of the legacy and impact you want to leave through your children and other close relationships. Every day is truly a gift, offering a chance to make a positive difference in someone else’s life.

Sadly, sad things will always happen. Nevertheless, we must decide how these situations will define us. We get to choose whether we gain wisdom and continue to give love through the experience. It helps to have faith in something bigger. Of course, while you are mired in the immediate depths of grief and despair, these are hard concepts to embrace, but it is the only way to heal and move on.

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