An Opportunity Missed is an Opportunity Lost

My daughter telephoned me from Jerusalem and asked me to help her with a certain matter. I told her that I could help her in half an hour’s
time.

I called her back sometime later and she told me that she no longer needed my help. I felt that I had Missed an Opportunity – how many times does my daughter ask me to help her? An Opportunity Missed can never be recaptured!

We recite twice daily in the Shema: VEHAYU HADVARIM HA’ELEH
ASHER ANUCHI METZAVCHA HAYOM…, “And these words which I command you this day…”.(Deut.6,6): these words are from this week’s Parsha Vaetchanan
The Key word is HAYOM – this day.

The Chafetz Chaim explained this verse as follows. A person has to imaginethat he is the only person left in the world and that he has only one book and Hashem directs a request straight to him. “And these words” you should be studying: that is the words of the Torah; “which I command you”: I am directing the request to you personally; “this day”, today is your last chance. Do not procrastinate. Do not put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

Time wasted can never be regained. An opportunity missed is an opportunity lost.

If you do not take advantage of the moment, it is gone.

No one gets a chance to recoup what he misses today. Every minute is precious and one should use one’s time wisely. The Torah is so vast and if we do not keep up with it constantly, we lose a priceless opportunity.