The More, The Merrier. Time.

'I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his calendar.' - Robert Brault

Time, or in essence, the lack of it. 

I'd burnt of much a good time of the day. Of accomplishing nothing academically.

Many a time we'd wish life was as simple as a Nintendo game. You load the gamepack, turn on the power, resume your saved game. Of course, similar to the context control over your character or avatar still remains, yet the only thing, one doesn't get anymore of the opportunity when forced into a corner, to turn off the power, reload the saved file and resume where left off. How we wish that were possible. The things we'd done..

Today was the first in 2 weeks I'd went to visit my grandmother. 

Hospital, home; home, hospital, home. It'd taken a toll, clearly obvious. Cancer, gnawing away at the heart, and the body, the virulent progress in the body of a person, the wake of its destruction clear. Tomorrow, the day after, the next week. Even the doctors could put a finger as to how long more. And as we chatted she would often smile, aware of her debilitating condition, already at its terminal stages, yet not wanting to let up. Her eyes however give it all away. Frail as she was, shriveled and worn out from the arduous battle with cancer we managed a form of talk over take away dinner, albeit peppered with repetitions in speech time and time again from the lucidity in the mind time deprives from one. Aye, memory lapses. Life, its a painful thing at times. Age really does leave its mark on a person. The lines, the dulled reactions, problems that come with it. How many chances does it require before one realizes the value of those around him?

Is it really necessary to have one face the music before he awakes to his reality?

Is it a must for one to be staring death or disease in his eye before he comprehends the essence of "cherish"?

Perhaps so. 

We often miss out the little occurrences. We take for granted things that happen. Throw behind our values for our selfish desires. Until its already too late.

Academics? I'm entrenched up to the knees in the floodwaters. Yet, I know I'd not regret this time spent today. It makes us really wonder: what have we traded off in life, for our frenetic pursuits of success and riches?

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Paid in Full

A young man was getting ready to graduate college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. 

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning  of his graduation his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and  told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box.
 

Curious, but somewhat disappointed the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible. Angrily, he raised his voice at his father and said, "With all your money you give  me  a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the holy
book.
 

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care things. When he arrived at  his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart.

 He began to search his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears,  he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he read those words, a car key dropped from an envelope taped behind the Bible. It  had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports  car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words...PAID IN FULL.
 

How many times do we not cherish our blessings because they are not packaged as we expected?