I woke up again this morning.
I have not earned this gift any more than all the previous ones
but each day so far, it has been given anew;
therefore again today, I will do my best to use it wisely,
to turn this gift of life into a blessing for someone who crosses my path.
I will smile at someone who needs a smile,
make someone laugh — we all need that
give someone a hug, or several people several hugs
hold a door, save a place, carry a load
I will listen to someone who needs to talk
open my heart to someone in pain
honor someone’s progress on their unique path
praise someone for a job well done, or well begun
excuse someone for a mistake or misstep
forgive someone for pain they caused me
free someone to go their own way
grieve with someone over their loss
celebrate with someone in their joy
avoid causing someone pain when that is my first impulse
allow someone to learn from their own mistake
stay out of someone’s way who is moving faster than I
remember that my path is only my own, not a highway for all to follow
heal someone, or allow them to heal themselves
hold someone’s hand if they happen to be going my way
give someone a hand up if they ask for it
allow someone to help me if they offer.
I know I will not succeed in doing all of these things today
and even if, on my very best day, I did manage
to succeed in all these ways and even more
I would end that day, as I will today,
deeper in debt to my Source, the Beloved, for each deed I perform
will bring me at least as much blessing as I give.
Then on those days when I stumble, do the opposite of my aspiration,
completely waste my daily gift; on those days I will be given
an even greater gift — grace, a lesson, an opportunity for growth
to be held in account for as long as it takes me to recognize it,
act upon it, so no matter how I spend my time today I am sure to return
to bed more deeply in debt than when I awoke.
Therefore I choose to live today in gratitude for this gift of life,
knowing that it is freely given, will never be called due
for on the day when finally I don’t awaken, I will return
to my Source, be embraced in the arms of the Beloved,
who will then thank me profusely for the gift of my life
that I so freely and completely gave to Her.
© Keith D. Wilson 2016