The Gift of Time

by Henry L. Yu, M.D.

One of the things that we are equal with any Pepe or Pilar or Nena is the Gift of Time - a time to be born, to grow, to make friends, to be happy, to get hurt, to love, to give life, to serve, to have a family, to be old, gray, weary and sickly, and a time to come back home to our Creator one day. Someday. As one author would put it, "To live is to go on a journey, to die is to come back home."

 

In our lifetime, we travel through life's many journeys, either alone or in the company of friends and loved ones. Some journeys may be smooth sailing, with less air pocket as we fly high, while other roads may be too rough thus making us stumble and fall.

 

As human beings, we have our own stories to tell and our personal histories to share - our past and our present. Each to his own. We know our past because we've been there. We have lived it. We know our present because we are living in it now. But the future is something we are not familiar with it as it is yet to come. What it will bring, we don't know exactly. Only God has the key and the answers. In His Time.

 

Yesterday... Everybody was rejoicing and welcoming a newborn baby that was us. We were given a name. We went to school and made friends out of the many classmates we have. We learned our lessons. We graduated. Then we applied for work and got employed. We worked, earned, and saved. We got married and have a family of our own.

 

Today... We have become parents who have to work, earn, and save for our children's basic needs (food, clothing, shelter, education, among others), the same things our very own parents went through when we were young. Today, we have friends who readily stand for and by us through thick and thin. We have neighbors who share with us life's agony and ecstasy so much so that they have become like family to us.

 

Tomorrow... We have yet to know. It is the future that will still have to come and to happen. Will it be as wonderful as yesterday or as beautiful as today? Will tomorrow be filled with sorrow? Will it be raining in our hearts?

 

Come what may, no matter what, the fact remains: Life continues as we travel its many journeys, along with the many lessons to learn from, people to meet, adventures to experience, challenges to face, and the many more things to do in a lifetime.

 

Yesterday was a time. Today is. Tomorrow will be. All these are God's gifts to us. Let us rejoice and be glad for the gift of time.