Pat and I recently went to Scott and White in Temple so she could have a cancer specialist evaluate her health.  In the course of sharing with him, she suddenly said, "I've tried to do everything right:  low-fat diet, exercise, etc.  Why did I get cancer twice?"  Of course the doctor couldn't answer the question.  Nobody can.  Some people observe the rules, but get cancer.  Some people break the rules, but don't get cancer.  That doesn't seem fair.

     Of course it isn't fair.  Life isn't fair.  Many people who work hard and live honest lives wind up with nothing.  Some even have to go on welfare or live on the edge of poverty.  But most of us have seen people who cut corners and live dishonest lives, yet have much of this world's goods.

     Life isn't fair in our spiritual lives either.  Sometimes it seems the more we try to be faithful servants of the Lord, the more bad things happen to us.  But that shouldn't surprise us.  As a friend recently reminded me,  "The Lord never promised that life would be fair, did He?  It certainly wasn't fair to our precious Lord Jesus!  But praise His name, He did promise that we would never be alone!"

     Exactly.  Although life isn't fair, God is good.  And because He is good He is with us in grace.  There is always so much to be grateful for.  No matter what happens, we can find good things to fill our hearts with praise.

     Although Pat has had cancer twice this past year, we can and do thank and praise the Lord that it had not spread in either instance.  We are grateful for how much closer this has brought us to one another and to the Lord.  And every day is seen as a special gift now.  Another chance to love God and one another.

     A former pastor used to say,

"The inner side of every cloud is always bright and shining.
  I therefore turn mine inside out, and show the silver lining."

     Sounds like good advice.  Let's try it.