Once upon a time . . . /MANN

How many stories have you heard from childhood until now that have coaxed you into a plot, setting and dialogue with this invitation? And how many times have you sunk into the heart of characters because of this subtle summons to enter into a person's suffering and celebration. Those four words open time for you.

I don't turn my clock back for one whole day on the time-change weekend. It's  like found time. It seems like a gift. And maybe even more than that, the hour seems to open up the morning as if the clock has stopped. Even the second day after the time change, I'm up waiting for the day to begin enjoying my gift of an hour. Perhaps a bit of a game, but it's a pleasant one.

The second gift in this time of the year is that when I wake up, I'm not wondering around in the dark. Day break has opened the skies. Yet through the day, I'm very much aware that I've been given an hour—a whole hour. It's already been lived once, yet waits to be enjoyed again. Now I could turn my watch back and miss all this fun. All I have to do is look at the other clocks in the house—Doug has changed them, which makes it even funnier as he's either early for dinner or I'm late.

Some people use the word time in disgust when you're late or miss a deadline, "It's about time!" showing their lack of tolerance or patience. But, it is about time, isn't it, as most things are. Some people punch a time clock at the beginning and end of each day. The school bus regularly stops at the front of the house at the same time each day. At times, you've probably thought, "I'm going to spend quality time with. . ."

Many years ago, I wrote a three-act play entitled, "The Gift of Time" for our church's 140th anniversary. The script spanned four generations showing how people used time to learn, relate, grow in faith and carve out a life out of The Queen's Bush in Grey County. It was an interesting write and it created an indelible mark in my memory of honouring God, family time, past generations as well as the responsibility to prepare for future generations.

"God moves across the pages of time, Giving good things to you.
You've tasted joy and strife. It's all a part of life. Oh, that precious gift of time."

Take some time on Monday, November 11^th to remember the men and women who gave their lives, as well as those who served and returned home. 

Blessings,

Donna

Aggie's Voice: The Stratford Years was launched October 29, 2013 (3rd book in the Aggie trilogy) 

A Rare Find: Ethel Ayres Bullymore - A Legend of an Epic Canadian Midwife;  book launch Dec. 7/13 at Faith Family Books and Gifts/Toronto