During my 8^th grade year of school in P.E. class, we sat on benches in the locker room in alphabetical order, after we had dressed in our gym clothes. To my left was Mike and to my right was Pat. Both Mike and Pat were two of our best athletes in school and were involved in football, basketball and track.

Everyday I would say, “How you doing Mike?” He would always answer, “Good and you?” I would turn towards Pat and he would say something like, “Screw you McGonagle.” Once in awhile, I would answer like this, “Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed?” I liked both guys, they just had different personalities.

Several years later, I was having an adult beverage in a local establishment; Pat comes in the door and sits by some guy at the other end of the building. About three minutes later they were throwing punches at each other. As the owner was throwing Pat out of the building, he was saying, “Why me?”

Pat died at the age of 45. Mike died during our 8^th grade year of school. Both of those guys at some point in their lives probably said, “Why me?” I know I have said that to myself many times. Why did Mike die so young? Why did Pat die so early? Why has God kept me around and those two had to go so early?

1 Peter 1:6-8 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer in grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.

If you are or have been suffering in grief or any other kind of trials, know that you are not alone. Years ago I saw a sign on the back of the football stadium that said, “It isn’t the life that matters, it is the courage you bring to it.”