Moments, not minutes

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Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts. 
(Charles Dickens) 

I don't know if I need to remind anyone else, but I will take this opportunity today to remind myself that these three things matter very much - the heart, our temper, and our touch. Our heart because it is the seat of all our emotion - guard it well and it will stay on an even-keel; neglect it or allow it to run hog wild and you will know many a misery in life. The heart is capable of being very hardened because it faces all manner of anger, hatred, and malicious intent in this world, or it can remain malleable in the hands of God even in the face of great adversity and resistance. 

A temper that never tires might just be likened to an attitude that never forgets how to forgive, extending mercy even when it is least deserved. We all might just benefit from having such a temper, my friends. I know how many times I have been on the receiving end of that type of temper and I am ever so grateful to have been treated with what I can only refer to as 'godly kindness'. To never tires implies it will be tried often - repeated assaults require repeated grace. A touch that never hurts, but rather heals and helps one up who has fallen. Three character traits we can all benefit to incorporate into our daily walk.

Don’t lose your grip on Love and Loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart. Earn a reputation for living well in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people. (Proverbs 3;3-4)

Living well in God's eyes and the eyes of the people. Isn't that what Dickens may have been portraying when he reminds us of these three attributes of character? Never lose your grip on LOVE - the heart may be drawn many a direction in life, but when it is drawn into the presence of God, it cannot help but be absorbed by the intensity of his love. Never lose your grip on LOYALTY - the heart may be directed toward many a distraction in life, but when it is committed to listen to only one voice, it is steady and deliberate in all its actions.

Earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes and you are certain to have a reputation of living well in the eyes of others, my friends. I listened as my pastor shared a very profound thought this morning. It wasn't original to him, but he shared a quote that really ministered to my heart. Maybe it will minister to yours, as well. "Life should be measured in moments, not minutes." I don't know the author of this quote, but I really latched onto it today. Minutes have flown by, but I have lots and lots of moments that I hold onto with each passing year. 

How about you? What moments are you making today? It isn't the completion of the goal that is really what matters today - it is the things we do with the moments we create today. The character we display today in the moments we create today - these matter. So, make the most of the moments - with hearts that never harden, tempers that never tire, and touches that never hurt. Just sayin!

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