The Gift of Time

Post date: Dec 24, 2012 7:30:56 PM

The houses on my street are lighted, the stores are packed with shoppers and children are expecting Santa to drop off "the gift" - like the song, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Take a minute to look back into 2012, most likely your thinking how fast those months just flew by.

Every year I send a Christmas message hoping you get everything you wanted, therefore I'd like to know how it went, did you make more money? Did you get the new car? Oh, then you landed your dream job or closed that big deal! You got "the house"? Took those that amazing trip you always wanted? Ate exotic foods and met wonderful people? Popped that great bottle of wine?

Now did the material achievements really matter that much? Did they really make a difference? So what did make a difference in 2012? Did you say you were sorry to those you hurt? Were you there when your kid lost his tooth, scored that goal or just woke up at night and looked for you? Did you listen to that friend when they needed you? Did you tell those close to you that you love them?

For one if you are reading this on a computer you are not a reflection of the majority of the world population. Did you know that only one in every seven people on the planet actually own a computer? And that one out of seven people actually live with $1.25 a day.

These are facts that should help us reassess our priorities and clear that you probably don't know how good you've got it. Lighten up! After all this is what the season is all about "light". Don't forget that the reason we celebrate is that of a humble little boy born in a humble little place who brought with him one gift that would change humankind. Change, which has lasted more than for than 2000 years. “We do not possess the truth, the truth possesses us. Christ, who is the truth, takes us by the hand”

This year I would like to give you a different type of gift, the gift of time. Time to hug your child, time to read a bedtime story, time to listen, time to laugh with your spouse, and time to see the sunset. It is time after all the limited resource, one that needs to be managed wisely.

Unfortunately this is a gift I can’t give you because you already have it, what I can give you is a prayer, to use this time with wisdom and justice.

Dear Jesus,

Enlighten me to do everything for Love,

Help me persevere in little things for Love.

Thus there will be no little things: everything will be big.

Help me carry out the little duty of each moment,

Doing what I ought and concentrating in what I’m doing.

May this year be the one where we realize that a little act, done for Love, is worth so much!

Have a Merry Christmas!