Daily Gospel Chat | Jan 5 | The Little Things In Your LIfe

January 5

Wednesday

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? - Matthew 6:25 [NIV]

I'd promised my husband I would stop working this afternoon to watch the ice-skating with him. We both love these programs-the sheer magic of skilled young bodies flying and dancing across the ice, taking our problems with them. But the house was a mess, and I was hoping at least to clear a path through the storeroom. From below I could hear music and George calling up, "Come on, honey! Skating's about to start."

I groaned, remembering. "Pretty soon!" I yelled.

But sorting does take long-what to keep, what to give away or throw out. Will I ever wear those skirts again? Do we really need all those picture frames? What about old tax returns and Christmas cards? Meanwhile, I was dimly aware of music, voices, applause. And now and then, "Oh, honey, you don't know what you're missing!"

Finally, I came to, startled perhaps by the silence. The skating must be over, or George had turned it off. Stricken, I got to my feet, recalling another time and a choice I would always regret: my teenage daughter and her brother begging me to look at a book of beautiful photographs with them. They could hardly contain their enthusiasm; they wanted to show me its marvels. But I was too busy getting dinner. "Later," I put them off. But later, after dishes, both of them were gone. I had missed a precious golden hour with them...

"George!" I cried out now, hoping I wasn't too late. Racing downstairs, I rejoiced to find him pouring coffee for us, one eye on the screen. He turned up the sound again and the music restored the singing in my heart. I resolved then what I advise now: When those you love ask you to share their little hour of magic, don't put it off for mundane things.

Seize the beautiful moment; enjoy it with them. It may not come again.

Dear Father, never let me forget Your wonderful words that life is more than food and raiment. We must feed the spirit, too. -Marjorie Holmes