Value

I didn't write this, but it's certainly a valuable lesson.

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?"
Hands started going up.
He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up.
He then asked, "Who still wants it?"
Still the hands were up in the air.
"Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.
He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.
"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way.
We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. You are special - Don't ever forget it!

Troubles Are Blessings In Disguise

When you think about the millions of things that you are blessed with - a healthy body, a loving family and peaceful home, good education, a satisfying career, friends to bug, time to waste, money to spend whenever you feel like it, etc. doesn't that make you feel like the luckiest person on earth?
But how many of us do actually lay claim to this title? No one, I think (me included - I am only normal!).
We all have that one thing missing that doesn't let the picture of life become perfect. All of us. That one missing piece of the puzzle blots out the entire scenery. Is that very prudent? Should one shortcoming make everything else worthless?
He let that one desire unfulfilled for a reason: so that the creation does not forget Him.
We hardly think about Allah in times of extreme happiness. But in times of distress, we don't do anything but gripe and groan to Him - but at least He is in our hearts and always in our thoughts.
We face hard times for two reasons: 1 - Punishment of our own sins, 2 - Test of faith in Allah.
How should you distinguish between the two?
ANSWER: Hardships due to punishments take a person away from Allah and he becomes resentful. Hardships that test, bring one closer to the Creator and strengthen the bond.
So when you are beset by troubles, the best solution is to be patient and wait for time to change.
Here is an interesting and motivating piece of knowledge:
When Muslims are in their graves, azaab tries to enter from different directions. It is warded off from the head by Salat, then by Fast, Hajj and Zakat from the other three sides. All the while, patience in worldly distress scurries here and there: in case of shortcomings in one of the pillars, it wards off the azaab and doesn't let it reach the body.
So I guess, people who are beset by troubles and are patient over them are actually the blessed ones. Allah gives them a chance to make their second innings a success.
All us cricket lovers already know that matches are won or lost only in the second innings.
So take heart and be happy to be given the Chance.