It made sense to me Izzie. You have all the attitudes: love, praise and gratitude

izzie, let me say this 1st. Thank you for sharing and opening your heart. It takes great courage to look positive side of life despite of so much turmoil.

resserts, I see your point and happen to agree with you. Life was never meant to be fair. Bad things happen to good people to no fault of anyone, including God.

On the other hand, I ask everyone, to remember that we all seek and express comfort differently. A good example of this was when I lost my mother. My mother was only 51 years old when she passed away. She was unwed when she was pregnant with me. Her church separated her from the rest of the congregation for fear that she would contaminate the rest. My mother stopped going to church because of this experience, but she wanted her children to feel free to choose what was right for them. I think that she continued to believe in God, but she questioned the churched. This was a scar that I am afraid never completely healed.

Now, she allowed my brother and I to choose for ourselves. My brother has found God & I am a devote atheist. When our mother passed away, there were several people who stepped forward to tell me, "It is God's plan and she is now working for him." These words were not meant to be cruel. In fact, they were said to bring me comfort. So, when I heard these words (which were vastly against my own personal spirituality), I heard the good intentions and love in the voices of those that spoke them. I never took offense.

So, the important thing is not who is right and who is wrong, but the intention behind the "spoken word" regarding this particular matter.

P.S.
resserts, I do applaud you for being exceptionally civil. I honestly do not think you were trying to offend or hurt anyone's feelings, but simply trying to state a point and open dialogue.