During the 1800's lived a gentleman with the pen name, Josh Billings. His real name was Henry Wheeler Shaw and he is considered perhaps the second most famous humor writer and lecturer in the second half of the 19th century after Mark Twain, whom also used a pen name.

"Occasions are rare; and those who know how to seize upon them are rarer"

Soemtimes I fail to realize that occasions as Mr. Billings says, are 'rare' as I go about the day-to-day. And then, it hits me. Wow. What gifts we are blessed with, those occasions.

Theologian and Bishop Jeremy Taylor bears these thoughts,

Enjoy the blessings of this day, if God sends them; and the evils of it bear patiently and sweetly: for this day only is ours, we are dead to yesterday, and we are not yet born to the morrow.

This passage reminds me to seize the moment and not squander it with worries, doubts or concerns. The day is given as a gift, just as yesterday was. Yesterday's wrappings are now old and the surprise inside unveiled. Why look towards tomorrow, when we've barely begun unwrapping today's. A 'thank you' should be said.