The other day, I opened an e-mail that I’ve received numerous times over the years but, for some reason, this time it really stuck in my head. It said that people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

When people are in your life for a reason, it’s usually to meet a need. They come to assist you through a difficulty, provide guidance and support or aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be.

And then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, the relationship will come to an end. Sometimes these people die, or they walk away, or they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a season, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.

They bring you an experience, or make you laugh, or teach you something you’ve never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy, but only for a season.

Lifetime relationships teach you lifetime lessons. Things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

I started to think about all of the people I have encountered throughout my life. It is very overwhelming when you really stop to think about it. Relatives, schoolmates, teachers, co-workers, teammates, friends, friends of friends, friends of relatives, in-laws, strangers and the list goes on.

One of my friends I’ve known since second grade. She’s not able to get up here from Florida often, but when she does, we get together and it’s like we were never apart. I have girlfriends from high school and college. I see them several times throughout the year and when we are together, we laugh so much our faces hurt.

Many of my friends I’ve met through the various jobs I’ve had over the years. We met through a common ground and have remained friends even after we left these employers for greener pastures.

Some of my friends I met through my husband, some through my kids and other through mutual friends. Many people who once played large parts in my life, I no longer see at all. Some have died, some moved out of town, while others have exited stage left to make room for the new ones entering stage right.

The dynamics involved in meeting and getting to know all of these people is vast, but that’s what makes it amazing. I tried to figure out which people might fit into each category. In the end I realized that it really doesn’t matter.

Fortunately, I’ve always had a lot of relatives and friends. That is a good thing since I have quite a variety of interests. Each person has helped to make my life what it is today. Some things have been bad, but most everything has been very good.

Life is short and we don’t always say everything we need to say to the people we need to say it to. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift — that’s why it’s called the present.

Thank you for being a part of my life, whether for a reason, a season or a lifetime.