How many moments have I wasted?

   Every moment that we have is a gift.  Too commonly, we take these moments for granted.  We receive them all of the time.  And then, we get angry when they are no longer given, though we think of them as being snatched from us.  Each moment of your life is a gift.  It was not something you gave yourself.  It was not something you earned.

   So, why do we waste so many of these moments, especially if we only have a limited amount?   Sure, it is easier to let the moments come and go.  If we take no initiative, they come before us and we just let them slip away.  Indeed, we let the moments do all the work and just sit idly by.  Sure, we were “busy”.  But “busy” doing what?  Reacting to the moments or actually living the moments.

   Every moment comes with a choice.  We can do what is true, good, and beautiful OR we can let the moment slip away.  Too oftentimes, we only choose the true, good, and beautiful when it is easy.  Being intentional about each moment is hard only because we have a fallen nature that wants us to give in.  But, give in to what?  Letting the moment to love slip away.  A moment that we can NEVER get back!

   If we waste too many moments, we will feel like we have wasted our lives.  But that is quite contrary.  Those moments are gone, but we have this moment.  We cannot mourn the moments wasted only to waste more moments.  We must use them as a lesson never to waste the precious gift of a moment again.  Will we fail?  Sure.  But we can always try our best and live the next moment.

   You and I are all given a limited amount of moments.  What are you going to do with yours?

   Jesus, You used every moment You had on Earth to love.  Teach us to love in every moment, especially the hidden moments in our lives that are so easy for us to waste as You did in Your hidden life in Nazareth in the Holy Family.