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Lord, teach me not to hold on to life too tightly. Teach me to take it as a gift. To enjoy it, to cherish it while I have it, but to let go gracefully and thankfully when the time comes. The gift is great, but the Giver is greater still. You are the Giver and in You is a life that never ends. Amen. Such a simple prayer but it helps to maintain our focus throughout our days on this earth. Our obsession for created things very often is the biggest obstacle to a more fulfilling relationship with God. How often do we cling to things that will certainly go away when we have died? It is the gift of everlasting life that is most important. It is the time we will spend in eternity with God that should drive our passions. God does not want us to be destitute, merely to realize the place that created things have in our lives. As we approach the Lenten season, it is a great time to focus on the Giver. I hope the prayer above brings you as much comfort as it has given me over the years.

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