We all need a reason to get out of bed each morning. For young parents, the sound of their youngsters awake in their cribs is all the motivation they need. For the middle aged, hopefully, it is a career that they continue to enjoy. Then there are those in my age category; the seventh decade brigade who are retired and still very active.

         Five out of seven mornings I am motivated by a visit to daily Mass, and that half hour gives me a great start to my day. I see friendly faces and hear a short reflection on the day’s readings; it gives the day a perfect beginning. For those who live alone, those short conversations as we leave the church remind us that we are a part of a caring community.

         Last week, our pastor gave us a serious subject to ponder for the day. He spoke about the value of a name. One of the commandments states that we should not take the name of the Lord in vain. Well, how many of us have cursed and used His name when we are frustrated and upset? With patience, and as we grow older and wiser, we learn to control that bad habit.

         The other fault that often occurs is the way we speak of our neighbour. How often have we been a part of spreading gossip about someone? Although we may hear it, we have a duty not to repeat what we hear. The spread of gossip should stop with us. Our tongues should be used for praise, and never to be a part of passing on information about others.

         Friendship is a delicate and precious gift which can be easily tainted by passing along information that was shared in confidence. The best way to avoid being a part of gossip is to keep private what should be kept to oneself. We are human and therefore, we make mistakes.  All of us are guilty of letting our tongues get the better of us at times. Whether it is hurting someone through criticism, or gossip, or indifference, we should always be prepared to start each new day trying to do better.

         God knows we are not perfect. He is always ready to forgive us our trespasses. We can pass along that same kindness to those around us who may have hurt our feelings. We can sincerely accept their apology, and then, forget the deed that was done.

         Our life here is short compared to the future on the other side. Every effort we  make here will give us peace of mind for today and be a bridge to eternal life.

(First published in July by inspirationaltv.net, a New Zealand Christian blog)