A gift is freely given

When have you given away something precious?
Perhaps you gave away a favorite book.
Perhaps you gave away a family heirloom (a ring or a watch...)
Perhaps it was a favorite sweater or an only pet.
Perhaps you have given away money to charity or to a beggar on the street.
Perhaps you have gifted someone with a favorite home-cooked meal
or some fresh-baked cookies.

These are but a few precious items we may have given away.
The true question is in the giving of your time and your heart, however.

When was the last time you gave away a smile
to someone who may have been frowning at you?
When have you given of your time unexpectedly and without prior appointment?
When was the last time you gave away a moment in prayer for the forgotten souls
(in particular, the souls in purgatory)?
When did you pause to acknowledge the presence of God, in your life?
To be lifted in a moment of ecstasy while contemplating the wonders of our world?

We must learn to live in a fast-paced world
by keeping a dignified and unhurried pace in our walk
so that we may not let precious moments pass us by...