Is Life Fair?

We had a very interesting discussion today in Relief Society regarding life's fairness...Is life fair? Bad things happen to everyone,some experiences the Lord 'gives' us, some we choose ourselves and some, probably the most difficult to deal with is when someone else effects us through their agency.
This is where the discussion got interesting. How do we handle this unfairness? We all have the amazing and undeniably wonderful experience of using the Atonement. I have gone through my own difficult experiences on many occasions while here on this Earth, some as a young child, some as a teen, and many as an adult. They have all been different and very difficult experiences, the only thread that is similar is they have all helped me (through the atonement)become the women I am today! I would not have been able to successfully journey through any of them without the knowledge and love I have of my Heavenly Father and His love for me! Do I think it is fair that my child gets picked on sometimes....No! does that make me go to the individual who is bullying my child and rip them up one side and down the other.No! does it make me grateful that my child is having an opportunity to grow and develop their relationship with the Saviour? ABSOLUTELY! I may not enjoy witnessing my child experience these cruel things, but I am very grateful they are 'learning' from them.
I am grateful for the Atonement and the knowledge we have that our Brother knows these pains. We are not alone! There is a plan, the peace these words give me help me through these 'unfair' times in my life....so much so that 'Fair' is neither here nor there!