{"id":432,"date":"2013-02-07T05:09:09","date_gmt":"2013-02-07T05:09:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/divineimpacts.wordpress.com\/?p=432"},"modified":"2013-02-07T05:09:09","modified_gmt":"2013-02-07T05:09:09","slug":"no-opportunity-wasted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/s456716475.onlinehome.us\/?p=432","title":{"rendered":"No Opportunity Wasted!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Now<\/a>Time: it is something that seems to be endless and from a scientific standpoint that could be true; but to each of us individually, time will stop. Be on your guard [constantly alert], and watch and pray; for you do not know when the time will come. (Mark 13: 33). For the Christian, this is typically understood in reference to the return of Jesus Christ; the second coming. But one thing I know to be certain; Believer or not,\u00a0each of our lives will\u00a0come to an end.<\/p>\n

Do you find yourself taking for granted your time on this earth? Maybe your priorities are mixed up and you’ve lost sight of the things that really matter? I, for one, can be honest with you when I say I have spent countless years; years which cannot be reclaimed and have sadly and shamefully been squandered focusing on things which have made absolutely no positive impact\u00a0in the\u00a0world. Now, as I am reaching what I like to think is my half-time in life, I find myself reflecting and taking an inventory on\u00a0 my life and asking this very simple yet important question: Is my life on this earth making a positive impact on others? Will my life here have made\u00a0a difference or will it be as though I never existed? I for one cannot go another day believing that my sole purpose for being created was to merely take up space and exist. No, each of us has a much greater purpose for being put on this earth and the heart of humanity is counting on each of us to fulfill that purpose.<\/p>\n

Over the past 12 months I have lost 2 dear friends who at one time I spent numerous hours with on a daily basis. Both of these people made a profound difference in my life and could have both been considered big brothers in my life. But as life would have it, we all get busy, we move on, our lives “seem” to go in different directions and those conversations that use to take place daily seem to shift to once a week; then a few times a month; and before you know it you are just checking in once or twice a year. Then unexpectedly,\u00a0we receive the news\u00a0we acted as though we would never hear; our dear friends have passed away!<\/p>\n

The death of both of my friends\u00a0completely caught me off guard and it was as if they both left forever without me being able to say goodbye; without me being able to tell them how much of an impact they made in my life; without them knowing how much I respected, cherished,\u00a0and\u00a0valued their friendship; without them knowing how much I truly loved them! Then we find ourselves filled with the “what-ifs”; the regrets of not just picking up a phone and taking a few minutes to touch their lives\u00a0as well as allowing them to touch yours; making that connection; creating more memories; wasting no opportunities!<\/p>\n

Through the opening of my eyes I wish to hopefully assist many of you out\u00a0there whom, like myself, have been going through life with blinders on and irresponsibly allowing valuable time to pass without making the impacts we are called to make. Here are a few suggestions, all of which I am attempting to implement into my life now!<\/p>\n

Make a list of all those who have at some time in your life made an impact on you. Once that list is established, make it a point to set aside a little time every week to reach out and contact them; tell them how you feel about them; how they have affected your life and simply thank them. Oh, and don’t\u00a0be afraid to tell them you love them!\u00a0The value of that relationship can be deepened and realized now; don’t wait until it’s too late. \u201cA new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34). We cannot possibly love those with our hearts if we are cut off from them. Reach out; connect and share your love.<\/p>\n

Also take a look at those relationships that have been damaged, be it by your owns actions or by those of others. Take the high road, take the first step and reach out. Ask for forgiveness if you feel you need to and if they have done something to harm or offend you, let it go and forgive them. I have had some amazing relationships rekindled with old friends over the past few months because I looked past the incident and into the heart of which was our relationship. I went to re-establish peace and lo and behold I found peace; and I reconnected with a fellow brother or sister that I care deeply for.<\/p>\n

\"Hour<\/a>Simply put, waste no opportunity to reach out and value relationships with others. Be it family members, old friends, neighbors you have yet to meet, co-workers; the list goes on. But remember that the sands within the hour-glass that is your life are quickly flowing. Make each grain count! There are people out there needing you and guess what? You need them too! Reach out; Connect! No Opportunity Wasted!<\/p>\n

\u201cYesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.\u201d-(Mother Teresa).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Time: it is something that seems to be endless and from a scientific standpoint that could be true; but to each of us individually, time will stop. Be on your guard [constantly alert], and watch and pray; for you do not know when the time will come. (Mark 13: 33). For the Christian, this is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/s456716475.onlinehome.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/s456716475.onlinehome.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/s456716475.onlinehome.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/s456716475.onlinehome.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/s456716475.onlinehome.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=432"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/s456716475.onlinehome.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/s456716475.onlinehome.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/s456716475.onlinehome.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/s456716475.onlinehome.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}