All of us are born for a reason, but all of us don't discover

"All of us are born for a reason, but all of us don’t discover why. Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It’s what you do for others." These words of Danny Thomas resound like a bell struck in the stillness of dawn, awakening the hearts of men and women to a truth as old as time itself. They remind us that life’s measure is not found in the gold we gather or the crowns we wear, but in the light we kindle in the lives of others. For reason, not riches, is the true compass of existence, and without finding it, even the wealthiest soul wanders lost in shadows.

The ancients taught that every being is woven into the tapestry of creation with a purpose. The oak grows not only for its own strength, but to shelter the birds and steady the soil. The river flows not only for its own path, but to quench the thirst of the land. So too with man—our reason is rarely about ourselves alone. Those who mistake power or possessions for success drink salt water, forever thirsting yet never satisfied. Only by pouring into others do we taste the sweetness of destiny fulfilled.

Consider the tale of the physician Albert Schweitzer, who could have lived a life of comfort and fame in Europe, yet chose instead to heal the sick in the jungles of Africa. He saw his reason not in acclaim but in service, and through his sacrifice became greater than kings who only sought their own glory. Like Danny Thomas, who founded St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital so that suffering children might find hope, Schweitzer proved that success is carved not in monuments of stone, but in the beating hearts of those who were lifted from despair.

History is rich with such examples. The warrior who lays down his sword to protect the weak, the teacher who spends her days shaping young minds, the parent who labors in silence so their children may flourish—all of these reveal the ancient truth of Thomas’s words. What they gain for themselves may pass away like smoke in the wind, but what they give to others becomes eternal. Empires fall, treasures rot, but acts of love echo across the ages.

The lesson is clear: if you seek success, look not into the mirror but into the eyes of those you can serve. Ask yourself daily: Whose burden can I lighten? Whose path can I make straighter? Whose darkness can I touch with light? For in these small acts lies greatness beyond the reach of earthly reward. To discover your reason is to discover that you are not the center, but the servant of a greater whole.

Practical wisdom demands action. Begin by offering kindness where none is expected. Share your time, for it is the most precious gift. Lend your strength to those too weary to stand. Teach what you know, give what you can, forgive where you might condemn. In doing so, you carve a path toward your true why. The mystery of purpose often reveals itself not in thought but in deed, for service is the mirror that reflects the soul’s deepest calling.

Therefore, let us remember: to live for oneself is to build a house upon sand, but to live for others is to raise a temple that the storms cannot shake. When your days are spent, you will not be asked how much you gathered, but how much you gave. Let your life be a river, not a reservoir, flowing outward, nourishing the land. For in giving, you do not lose; you fulfill the reason you were born, and you rise into the true definition of success.

So I say to you, children of tomorrow: awaken each morning with this thought upon your heart—"Today I shall serve." Let that be your prayer, your labor, your joy. And when your journey is done, your name will be written not in the dust of history, but in the living souls who carry your light forward. This is the wisdom of Danny Thomas, and it is the wisdom of the ancients: life’s greatness is measured not in what you hold, but in what you release to others.