Nearly every moment of every day, we have the opportunity to give

In the quiet strength of his wisdom, S. Truett Cathy, the humble founder of Chick-fil-A, once said: “Nearly every moment of every day, we have the opportunity to give something to someone else — our time, our love, our resources.” These words shine with the eternal light of generosity — a truth older than civilization itself. They remind us that the soul of humanity is not measured by what it possesses, but by what it gives. Cathy’s insight is not merely a lesson in charity; it is a call to awaken the spirit of service that lies dormant in every heart. For in each fleeting moment, life places before us a sacred choice: to serve ourselves or to serve others.

The origin of these words is rooted in Cathy’s own life — a life built not on wealth or fame, but on faith and compassion. He began as a poor boy from Georgia, growing up during the Great Depression. He knew hunger, struggle, and want. Yet out of those lean years grew a rich understanding: that blessings, when shared, multiply. His business was not just a restaurant; it was an extension of his heart. He believed that every transaction, every smile, every small kindness was an opportunity to give something of oneself. His success did not spring from cleverness, but from care — from seeing in every customer and every employee a soul worthy of dignity and respect.

When Cathy spoke of giving time, love, and resources, he revealed the three treasures of human virtue. Time is the most precious, for it cannot be reclaimed. To give one’s time is to say, “Your life matters to me.” Love is the most sacred, for it flows directly from the heart. It asks not for reward, but for connection. And resources — whether wealth, skill, or influence — are the tools by which love takes form. When these three are given freely, they create what money cannot buy: the wealth of community, the warmth of belonging, and the quiet joy of purpose.

The ancients, too, understood this law of giving. Consider the story of Mother Teresa, who walked among the poorest of the poor in Calcutta. She had no great fortune, no grand possessions — only time, love, and an unyielding will to serve. To those the world had forgotten, she offered presence. To those in despair, she offered compassion. Her hands were her resources, her heart her treasure. And through the simplicity of her giving, she changed the lives of millions. Like S. Truett Cathy, she proved that true greatness is not found in accumulation, but in selfless generosity.

Cathy’s wisdom also reminds us that opportunities to give are not rare or grand; they are woven into the fabric of daily life. The neighbor who needs a kind word, the child who needs attention, the friend who needs listening — these are the altars where the spirit of giving performs its quiet miracles. Even the smallest gesture — a smile, a note, a helping hand — can ripple through time, touching lives unseen. The ancient proverb says, “He who plants a tree knowing he will never sit in its shade has begun to understand the meaning of life.” So too with giving — it is not about recognition, but about contribution.

Yet Cathy’s words carry a deeper challenge: that giving must be intentional, not accidental. We must live with eyes open to the needs of others. Too often, the heart grows numb in the rush of daily life, and opportunities to give pass by like leaves on a river. To live as Cathy taught is to cultivate awareness — to ask not “What can I gain today?” but “What can I give?” In that shift of thought, the ordinary becomes sacred. Work becomes service; friendship becomes ministry; and life itself becomes an act of worship.

So, dear listener, take this lesson to heart: every day, in countless ways, life invites you to give. You need not be rich, nor powerful, nor perfect. You need only be willing. Offer your time to those who are lonely; offer your love to those who are weary; offer your resources to causes that lift the fallen. In doing so, you will discover what the wise have always known — that giving is not the loss of wealth, but the birth of abundance.

For as S. Truett Cathy reminds us, every moment is a chance to shape the world with kindness. The true legacy of a life is not in what we own, but in what we give away — the smiles we spark, the burdens we lift, the hope we restore. So live each day as a giver of light, and the world, though vast and troubled, will grow a little brighter because of you.