God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to

“God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say ‘thank you’?” Thus wrote William Arthur Ward, one of the most quoted American writers of inspirational thought, whose words gleam like lanterns for the weary traveler. In this simple, shining question lies a vast truth—a truth about gratitude, awareness, and the sacred measure of time. For Ward reminds us that each day we awaken to a treasury of moments—86,400 seconds—and that each one is a gift, not a guarantee. How easily we spend them on worry or complaint, forgetting that the mere act of drawing breath is already a miracle deserving of thanks.

The origin of these words reflects Ward’s lifelong devotion to optimism and faith. A teacher, author, and devout Christian, he believed that gratitude was not merely a polite response but a spiritual discipline—a way of aligning the soul with the divine rhythm of the universe. His writings often fused practicality with poetry, teaching that happiness is not found in what we lack, but in recognizing the abundance already given. This quote, though brief, carries the heart of his message: that every moment of life is a divine gift, and to fail in thanksgiving is to let the treasure of time slip unnoticed through our fingers.

The ancients would have called this wisdom sacred. For even the Psalms declare, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Time, to them, was not a clock’s turning but a divine current—a river flowing from eternity, carrying blessings upon its surface. Each dawn was a visitation of God’s mercy, each evening a reminder of His sustaining hand. Ward’s quote revives this ancient reverence for time, urging us to pause amid our haste and lift our hearts in thanksgiving. For gratitude sanctifies the day, turning ordinary seconds into sacred ones.

Consider the story of Helen Keller, who was left deaf and blind as a child, locked in a silence and darkness few can imagine. Yet through her teacher, Anne Sullivan, she learned to communicate and later wrote, “So much has been given to me, I have no time to ponder that which has been denied.” Helen could not see the sun, yet she thanked God for the warmth upon her face; she could not hear the music of the world, yet she felt the rhythm of love within her spirit. In her life, we see Ward’s wisdom made flesh: the soul that gives thanks transforms suffering into strength, limitation into glory.

To say ‘thank you’—even once—is no small thing. Gratitude is not a passive feeling; it is an act of recognition, a movement of the soul toward light. When we thank God, we acknowledge not only His gifts but His presence. We say, “I see You in the dawn, in the breath I draw, in the kindness of a stranger, in the lesson of hardship.” Gratitude opens the eyes to meaning and rescues the heart from bitterness. It is the antidote to despair and the birthplace of joy. Those who practice it daily discover that no moment is truly empty, for thankfulness fills even silence with purpose.

Yet how often do we rush through the day, consumed by noise and duty, forgetting to give even a heartbeat of thanks? We rise without wonder, eat without mindfulness, speak without kindness, and lie down without reflection. Ward’s question pierces this forgetfulness like a blade of light: “Have you used one to say ‘thank you’?” It takes but a second—one out of 86,400—to turn toward heaven and whisper gratitude. And that single second has the power to redeem the rest, to make the whole day sacred.

Therefore, my child, take this teaching to heart: begin and end your day with gratitude. When you wake, give thanks that your eyes have opened to another dawn. When you walk, thank God for the strength in your limbs. When you meet a friend, give thanks for the warmth of companionship. Even in trials, whisper thanks, for in hardship, too, the divine hand is at work shaping your soul. Let gratitude become your rhythm, your prayer, your breath.

For life is not measured by years but by moments of awareness—and each thank you is a jewel in the crown of your spirit. Do not let the day close without offering at least one. For when the heart gives thanks, the soul awakens; and in that single second, you fulfill the very purpose for which those 86,400 seconds were given—to recognize that every moment is a gift from God, and every gift, no matter how small, is worthy of praise.