Spirituality

‘The time that He has granted us’

June 26, 2016

These words brought me up short when I heard them, and caused me to stop in my tracks and think.

I was at Hilfield Friary earlier this week, assessing them for an Eco Church award, and I joined in their Mid Day Prayer service. During the Intercessions, one of the friars prayed that we would do something, ‘with the time that He has granted us’. I can’t actually remember what he prayed we would do, but that phrase jumped out at me.

It has made me reflect on how I view life.

Sometimes, if I’m brutally honest, life feels like something that has to be gotten through and endured as best I can. There is so much pain in people’s lives; so many things that people are living with.

But no! This little phrase opens a different window to look through. Life is a gift. A gift from God. How incredible it is to be granted some years to live on this earth; yes, not ignoring the pain, but also relishing the beauty and love that is such an amazing feature of our humanity.

Each one of us might not have existed: but we do! We have been given the privilege of existence… of life.

And so I want to make the most of this time that has been granted me; not frittering it away selfishly, but living it to the best of my ability, making the most of the opportunities I’m given to serve God and make a difference, however small that might be.

What about you – will you join me?

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6 Comments

  • Reply Diane Holliday June 26, 2016 at 9:48 pm

    Beautiful post Ruth… the longer I have lived ( 66 now ! ) the more I have realised that life is indeed a gift and as I carry that through each day I am aware that life is richer, deeper and more full of meaning when live in the moment of accepting that gift and then passing it on to others. Thank you for your thoughts.

    • Reply ruthvalerio June 27, 2016 at 7:54 pm

      Thank you Diane, that’s lovely!

  • Reply Joanna June 27, 2016 at 7:04 am

    That phrase I think can be taken in more than one way, there is the length of years on this earth but also the length of time in a specific season. The latter is perhaps more pertinent to me at the moment when facing Brexit and the ramifications on our life with our alpacas out in Latvia. Was this just for a season or for longer? Who knows but I really felt we should try to enjoy the time we have here for as long as we are able after the depression that set in on the Friday after the vote. Whether that is two years or longer, who knows but it is better that way than to let it cloud our days until this is sorted.

    • Reply ruthvalerio June 27, 2016 at 7:56 pm

      yes, it’s a sobering time isn’t it, and must be quite worrying for you. Good you can take a positive approach though and make the most of your current life, whatever the future may hold.

  • Reply Trevor Blackshaw June 27, 2016 at 3:52 pm

    Thank you Ruth for sharing this phrase. It has special significance for my wife Pamela and I. I have attained my 80th. year and she is one year younger. Our birthdays are two days apart in May. We celebrate our Diamond Wedding Anniversary in July 2018. In recent years I have come through a brush with cancer and have made an excellent and strong remission. The Lord has been very gracious and blessed us mightily. We have sought to serve the Lord over may years together and He has told us, “I have not finished with you yet.” ‘The time that He has granted us’, we are immensely grateful for.

  • Reply ruthvalerio June 27, 2016 at 7:57 pm

    That’s a beautiful comment, Trevor, thank you so much for taking the trouble to write. All the best to you.

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