We talked about two eminent characters that resembled two precious pearls, “Ibrahim El-Gohary” the great layman and Caliph “Uthman ibn Affan”. They were extremely generous and of decent manners therefore people admired them.
Today, I am going to discuss with you how to be generous with your time. Nelson Mandela says, “We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.”
Not only should a person be a generous benefactor, but also with his time too. You may help a person get out of a trouble, help him to think of a solution to his problem, educate someone about a specific matter or serve others in general. Sometimes dedicating time to other surpasses giving money and it deems priceless.
I read that story about the American president “Dwight D. Eisenhower” “1890-1969” who said “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.”
One day, President Eisenhower paid a visit to Denver and went to see a child named Paul Haley. He was suffering from cancer and had a great wish to meet the president whom he loved so much. He said that to his father whom, about to burst into tears, asked the child to write the president a letter. The child did that and he asked the president to come to see him.
President Eisenhower read the letter and said to one of his aides, “Let’s go see Paul Haley.”
The President walked up the house and knocked on the front door. Paul’s father, Donald Haley, answered the door to which President Eisenhower replied, “Sorry for visiting without prior notice, May I meet Paul? Tell him the President would like to see him.”
Little Paul walked around his dad’s legs and looked into the face of the President, who kneeled down and shook his hand. Eisenhower reportedly smiled and said, “Paul, I understand you wanted to see me and I did too so I came to visit you.”
The visit lasted for five minutes. Then, Paul walked outside and got to inspect the presidential limousine. He hugged the little boy and they shook hands and said good-bye. Then, the President drove away. Paul’s heart was gladdened and he was so proud that the president has come to see him telling his father, “He came for me. He loves me and wanted to see me”
Eisenhower gave a portion of his precious time to make a child happy. This visit is more precious than all the treasures of the word for Paul. Thus, offer your time to others graciously as they say, “Lost time is never found again”, ” Time is our dearest wish, yet we use it in the worst way”
Use your time wisely. Do not lose it, but rather use it fully for the best others, thus you would be the reason of their happiness. Only then, you would realize what God meant when he gave you the gift of time. He would also reward you for each and every act of love you offer.
To be continued…
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
