I had a very special teacher 
in high school many years ago 
whose husband unexpectedly 
died suddenly of a heart attack. 
About a week after his death, 
she shared some of her insight 
with a classroom of students. 

As the late afternoon  sunlight 
came streaming in 
through the classroom windows 
and the class was nearly over, 
she moved a few things aside 
on the edge of her desk and sat down there.

With a gentle look of reflection on her face, 
she paused and said, Before class is over, 
I would like to share with all of you 
a thought that is unrelated to class, 
but which I feel is very important. 

Each of us is put here on earth to learn, 
share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves. 
None of us knows 
when this fantastic experience will end.
It can be taken away at any moment. 
Perhaps this is God's way 
of telling us that we must 
make the most 
out of every single day.

Her eyes beginning to water, 
she went on.

So I would like you all to make me a promise.
From now on, on your way to school, 
or on your way home, 
find something beautiful to notice. 
It doesn't have to be something you see - 
it could be 
a scent...perhaps of freshly baked bread
wafting out of someone's house, 
or it could be
the sound of the breeze 
slightly rustling  the leaves in the trees, 
or the way the morning light 
catches one autumn leaf 
as it falls gently to the ground.

Please look for these things, and cherish them.
For, although it may sound trite to some, 
these things are the stuff of life. 
The little things 
we are put here on earth to enjoy. 
The things we often take for granted. 
We must make it important to notice them, 
for at any time... it can all be taken away.

The class was completely quiet.

We all picked up our books 
and filed out of the room silently. 
That afternoon, I noticed more things 
on my way home from school 
than I had that whole semester. 
Every once in a while, 
I think of that teacher 
and remember 
what an impression she made on all of us, 
and
I try to appreciate all of those things 
that sometimes we all overlook.

Take notice of something special you see 
on your lunch hour today. 
Go barefoot. 
Or walk on the beach at sunset. 
Stop off on the way home tonight 
to get a double-dip ice cream cone. 
For as we get older, 
it is not the things we did 
that we often regret, 
but the things we didn't do. 
 

PRAYER:

May today there be peace within you.
May you trust God 
that you are exactly 
where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities
that are born of faith. 

May you use those gifts
that you have received, 
and pass on the love
that has been given to you. 
May you be content
knowing 
that you are a child of God. 

Let His presence 
settle into your bones,
and allow your soul 
the freedom to 
sing,
dance, 
and to bask in the sun. 
It is there 
for each and every one of you.

AMEN!