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Some wise man said, "Yesterday is done and tomorrow may never come for you, so use today for your acts of kindness”
Of all the resources available to us on this earth, time must be one of the most fascinating. Events we are anticipating, either with excitement or dread, will happen in due time. Then, in what often may seem to be no time at all, this very same event is in the past and we are left reminiscing, gaining the usual 20/20 vision in hindsight! We all have the same 24 hours per day to manage in our own way and yet some folk do so much and others so little.
To spend time with God is to develop a relationship with Him, which helps us manage our lives in a positive, spiritual manner. There is so much advice and encouragement in the Bible for us to live full, productive lives but we need to study and share this book of information with others in order to derive the most benefit.
The time we spend with people assists us form relationships and learn the skills of social interaction. These experiences can be positive or negative. As teachers, we constantly strive to teach our pupils how to improve or learn from every interaction and use it to the betterment of our group and ourselves .
In this busy world, it is sometimes difficult to “make time” for the special folk in our lives and yet, when we do, we are aware of the enormous benefit to them and to us! I have just returned from a four day excursion with our Grade 7 group. My first instinct was to cry off with the very valid excuse of "Principal's duties". However, as it turned out, it was going to be difficult to swap school commitments and so off I went. What a marvelous time I would have missed! Many of these children have been at St Henry’s since grade 00 and I was one of their teachers all that time ago. Needless to say, I so enjoyed bonding with them so closely again and having fun, sharing in the many group activities. I was able to share in the teachers’ enthusiasm for giving the children as many thought-provoking tasks to do while exploring the forest, the river, the mangrove swamps and the beach. Even our bus driver was interested in our daily progress and, by the time we returned, I am not sure who was more tired, the children or the adults!
On my return, I was greeted like the long lost traveler and I again had to make time to hear about what had been going on at “home”. (I am convinced that many of the younger children still believe that I live at school!) Was all the wasted school work time worth it? Absolutely! I will always have the precious memories of being at an interesting place, at a particular time with a special group of children. Somehow I shall catch up with the backlog by working a few late nights, which I shall forget about, but my happy memory shall remain with me.
I do so hope that parents are able to do the same from time to time. I know how busy the working world is but a weekend here and a holiday there are vital if we are not to feel cheated of fun by the workaday routine. We can return to task feeling refreshed and energized after one of these “time out” activities. I have grown up children and a little tribe of grand children and if I can pass on any really good advice it will be this: Every minute spent with my family has been so worthwhile and I am always shocked at how quickly the time has flown by. It makes me very aware of the need to live life to the full, now.
Good times pass and so do bad times. Often when we are struggling with painful events in our lives, as we all do, we cannot see past the dreadful time of "now". Take comfort from the fact that you will learn and grow a great deal at times such as these and that things will change and improve. I believe that forgiveness frees us and remembering helps us to share the good lessons we learned from the event.
Our founder, St Marcellin used his inability to manage the schooling system of his time to help others by developing and funding the first Marist Brothers’ schools. Today this international group of Brothers has schools and colleges all over the world. Here is a truly worthy role model who didn’t waste time feeling sorry for himself.
“Time flies when you are having fun…” so my advice is go and have fun doing as many positive things for others that you are able to. By spreading love, happiness and support, your time will be well spent!
God bless you in all your endeavours for a better world in your special time on this earth.
Mrs
Illona Sumner
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