“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
I sit and ponder these verses from Ecclesiastes and think, one of the greatest, most precious gifts we can give to God is our time.
Time is one thing we can never take back once given. Even some, giving their heart to God, have reclaimed it as their own. But, not time.
Time is also one of those things God fills when we give it to Him. I would never have thought I’d find such joy, precious joy, in giving my Sunday morning for Mass or Divine Liturgy. Ever attend an Easter Vigil Mass, finding yourself surprised that 3 hours flew by in moments? To sit in Adoration of Jesus at the altar, lost in a Holy Hour that turns into 2 or 3. This is what I mean.
Our time in this life is finite. It has an expiration that isn’t so far off as we may hope. So, to give that precious gift to God is a form of surrender unlike any other. Sitting Sunday morning at dawn with the Bible, giving all day Sunday to His glory, all treasures for which God will return the profit a million times a million more.
And, the more time given God, often we find ourselves wanting to spend more of our time to Him and with Him. We go on weekend retreats and all day events focused on God.
Giving to God the good and bad times, letting Him guide the moment will bring a great peace and joy to your soul.
All the time we give away to God comes back as a great treasure of God Himself.