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For This One Hour
What can we do with just one hour? William Arthur Ward reminds us that an hour may seem like a small part of our day, yet much can be accomplished when we use that time wisely. We can encourage someone, offer a helping hand, spend time in prayer, give thanks, or simply bring a smile to another person's face.
Time is one of the gifts we all receive equally. No matter who we are, where we live, or what we have, each of us is given the same twenty four hours in a day. We cannot save yesterday's hours or borrow tomorrow's. We can only decide how we will use the time we have today.
Sometimes we feel there is never enough time. Yet doing something meaningful does not always require hours. A few minutes can be enough to encourage someone, listen to a friend, say a prayer, or let another person know that we care.
In this inspirational poem, Ward encourages us to consider what we can do with the hour before us. His words remind us that every hour gives us another opportunity to be grateful, cheerful, forgiving, generous, and helpful to others.
Updated September 8, 2026, by Catherine Pulsifer.
For This One Hour
Poet: William Arthur Ward
For This One Hour I can be grateful.
I can thank God for life itself, for opportunities,
For friends, and for a hundred other blessings and
Privileges to be counted, cherished, and enjoyed.
For This One Hour I can be cheerful.
Equipped with a smile, a song, and a sunny disposition,
I can transform the atmosphere, enrich my environment,
and brighten the day for others.
For This One Hour I can be optimistic.
Striking a happy medium between the pessimist and
the Pollyanna, I can realistically and confidently
expect good things to happen to me and through me.
For This One Hour I can spend some time in prayer.
I can pause to recharge my spiritual batteries,
renew my mental perspectives, refresh my physical energies,
and replenish my faith in God and my fellowman.
For This One Hour I can be unselfish.
I can take the Golden Rule off the shelf, dust it,
unwrap it, and put it to work in my thoughts,
words and actions... right now.
For This One Hour I can look for the best in others.
It may take some diligent searching, patient seeking,
and careful screening, but I will work at it, even as I
want others to look for the best in me.
For This One Hour I can help make someone happy.
I can do it through a word of encouragement or
comfort, or perhaps by a helping hand, a telephone
call, a letter, or a visit.
For This One Hour I can be forgiving.
I can leave the lowlands of resentment, grudges
and bitterness, and rise to the highlands of
understanding, love and forgiveness.
For This One Hour I can be generous.
I can listen quietly and attentively when others
want to talk. I can look for opportunities to give
a well-deserved compliment to someone who
needs it.
For This One Hour I can live in the present.
Now is the only time I have, and I can use
this hour wisely as a personal and precious
gift from God.
Key Reflections From For This One Hour
Use the time you have.
We cannot recover an hour once it has passed, but we can make good use of the hour before us. Ward reminds us to focus less on the time we have lost and more on what we can do with the time we have now.
Small acts can make a difference.
We do not always need hours to help someone. A smile, an encouraging word, a telephone call, or a few minutes spent listening can brighten another person's day. What seems small to us may mean a great deal to someone else.
Take time to be grateful.
There is always something for which we can give thanks. When we stop and appreciate our friends, opportunities, and everyday blessings, our attention moves from what we lack to what God has already given us.
Make room for prayer.
Ward reminds us that part of using our time wisely is taking care of our spiritual life. Time spent in prayer can help us renew our faith, change our perspective, and find strength for whatever the day may bring.
Choose forgiveness and generosity.
An hour spent holding resentment is an hour we cannot get back. Choosing understanding, forgiveness, and generosity allows us to use our time in ways that bring more peace into our lives and into the lives of others.
Live in the present.
Perhaps the most important reminder in the poem is that now is the time we have. We cannot change yesterday, and tomorrow is not promised. But this hour is ours to use. May we use it wisely and be thankful for the precious gift of time God has given us.
Popular Pages
Discover more poems that encourage us to appreciate today, use our time wisely, and bring something positive to the lives of others.
Let Just For Today encourage you to focus on this day and make the most of the time you have been given.
Read the Living Life Poem for another reminder to appreciate each day and make choices that give life greater meaning.
These Smile Poems remind us that something as simple as a smile can brighten another person's day.
Find encouragement in these Forgiveness Poems about letting go of resentment and choosing understanding, love, and peace.
Enjoy these Poems About Happiness that encourage us to appreciate life's blessings and share a little happiness with others.
Conclusion
For This One Hour reminds us that we do not have to change our whole life in a single day. We can simply begin with the hour before us. We can choose gratitude, offer encouragement, forgive, pray, help someone, or take time to appreciate the blessings God has given us. Each hour is a gift, and when we use it with kindness and purpose, even a small amount of time can make a positive difference.
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