Blog 3473 – 05.07.2025

The Most Precious Gift

The greatest gift that we have to give is not silver or gold, diamonds, or pearls, but our time and attention. The way to measure the importance that we attach to any friendship, partnership, marriage, or any of the myriad of family relationships is how much of our time and attention we devote to them.

Rich people are often able to hire people to take care of their children and aging parents so they can give more of their time and attention to other projects. But, I think when we fail to focus time and attention on the people that we love that we are even greater losers than they are. I am not saying that hiring nanny’s and nurses is a problem. They can in many ways be quite helpful, yet nothing can substitute for our giving our own time and attention to keep alive the relationships that matter the most to us.

Show loved ones you love them

Not just in word but also in deed

It is our time and close attention

That the ones we love most need.

Investments of time and attention

Results in relationships that thrive

People not things are our business

And the true reason we are alive.

It takes time and attention to cultivate and maintain a friendship. On our deathbed while we are considering the accomplishments and failures of our lives it will be the friendships that we nurtured and those that we failed to nurture that we give thought to more than the money, or the toys we amassed.

It behooves us to invest our time and attention in what matters most and that should be people far more than things.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David James White