I DONT HAVE TIME

Date: February 18, 2014

Several years ago, I met a father who confided to me an incident which happened to him and has been the cause of great pain to him. It was a sunny Spring day. He was returning home with his daughter, who he had just picked up from her school. She was nine years old at the time. While they were walking his daughter saw some chamomile flowers that were in bloom. She asked her Dad enthusiastically: Daddy, wait a minute. I want to pick some chamomile flowers for Mommy. Her Dad responded hastily: I dont have time now. I have a lesson at 5.00 pm and I havent prepared for it yet. I DONT HAVE TIME. How often, how many times, how casually, do we use these words without thinking of the consequences? Parents especially use these words quite often as an excuse to avoid doing something for their child, which to them may seem insignificant, but could and does affect their child in a most dramatic and critical manner. It leaves lasting marks of bitterness, perhaps not expressed, but felt within the heart of a child. I DONT HAVE TIME. A mother will say this; a father likewise to their children. The teacher to his/her students, the doctor to his/her patients; the entrepreneur to his/her family; the Bishop to his spiritual flock; the priest to his spiritual children and it goes on and on without distinguishing who the person is, what his/her position in society is, or what their educational background may be. This father has several years to see or speak with his daughter. The last time he spoke with her she was silent, but he interpreted her silence as expressing these words: I DONT HAVE TIME. Truly, as Christ says we will be judged by our words. Christ had time for everyone, from the most insignificant person to the most sinful, from high officials to societys misfits. Jesus had time to remember the poor widow and raised her dead son. He had time to forgive the repentant woman caught in adultery. Christ found time to cast out the devil from the Canaanite womans daughter. He didnt tell the man who was blind from birth-I dont have time; He healed him along with so many other people suffering. On the Cross He, through the power of love, found time to say to the malefactor on His right side: Truly, this day you will be with Me in My Kingdom. He found time

to bless the little children. Let the little children come unto me, for such is the Kingdom of Heaven. Christs incessant love for each person, without discrimination, without judgement, fills ones heart with love for Him, while bringing self-condemnation upon those who say, I DONT HAVE TIME. I personally know the father in the little story written above. His conscious suffers greatly. He told me that it is a foretaste of Hell where we will be tormented by an eternal sorrow of our conscience. God, the Holy Trinity, permits one who seeks salvation to be stirred with these pangs of conscience in this present life. It is a cleansing. It burns the sins from the heart. Tears burn his face each day. It has brought this person to the remembrance of other incidences in his life which may have seemed insignificant, but have to do with the life of others and his own place in eternal life. I know this father well, because it is he who is writing these few lines. Forgive me, my little daughter and I pray that you will always find time for your son.

IT IS NOT TOO LATE. WE CAN ALWAYS FIND TIME. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5ItNxpwChE