Reflection
Life is such a precious gift. We have no guarantee as to how long it will last or how kindly it will treat us. It just is. We had no part in choosing it. We will have no power to prolong it. But we do have the ability to enjoy it, to appreciate it, to take notice of and value all the myriads of other creatures who share in this amazing gift. We have the power to make the most of it and to keep all other experiences in perspective within the wonder of it. Our space in the great history of life is limited. We are a result of what went before us; we do not know what will come next. But, as we begin the new year, let us realize that this moment is ours to cherish.
Prayer
I will praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14
Action
Reflect on the gift of life. Appreciate it and don’t lose the wonder of it amid the distractions and problems that may come each day.
Suggested Reading
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Psalm 139: 13
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?
Luke12:15
Life is a gift, not to possess, but to share.
Henri Nouwen
Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.
Tony Robbins
God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.
Voltaire
Life is a gift, and I try to respond with grace and courtesy.
Maya Angelou
You must understand the whole of life, not just one little part of it. That is why you must read, that is why you must look at the skies, that is why you must sing and dance, and write poems, and suffer, and understand, for all that is life.
J. Krishnamurti
We can smile, breathe, walk, and eat our meals in a way that allows us to be in touch with the abundance of happiness that is available. We are very good at preparing to live, but not very good at living. We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma and we are willing to work very hard to get a job, a car, a house, and so on. But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive in the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive.
Thich Nhat Hanh
While we have the gift of life, it seems to me the only tragedy is to allow part of us to die – whether it is our spirit, our creativity or our glorious uniqueness.
Gilda Radner
Life is a gift. Never take it for granted.
Sasha Azevedo
We have the choice to use the gift of our life to make the world a better place.