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Listen to this profound epitaph found on an English gravestone: "What I kept, I lost. What I spent I had. What I gave I had."
Friend of Dial Hope, as you well know, the art of keeping isn't all bad. There will always be secrets to keep, treasures to store, memories to hold tightly. But some of us keep compulsively; we keep, keep, keep. We are hoarders. Although we keep actual objects, we lose the joy of possession. In spending we no longer withhold or hide something. This epitaph closes by reminding us that when we leave life, we only have what we gave and shared in love and trust. And this is one of life's most difficult lessons to learn. Yet learn it you must, if you want a full life. When our lives come to the end, we will realize that we are the sum of our gifts - gifts of joy, gifts of time, gifts of dissent, gifts of comfort - all our gifts. We are not the sum or our possessions. We are not the sum of our accomplishments. We are finally the sum of our gifts. The persons I most respect and admire are givers and not takers. Let's hear it for generosity and gratitude!
Let us pray: Extravagant God, you have given the ultimate gift, the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. We thank you for the gift of friendship with Jesus. Now help us to embrace each day as a gift, something sacred and special; a day to play with children, visit an older person, hug a friend; a day to do something generous and kind. Surprise us now with your joy and grace in unexpected places. We remember today, O God, all the men and women serving in our armed forces, especially those in Iraq and Afghanistan. Watch over them and help them to feel our love and our prayers. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. |
