What does the phrase, "life is a gift" mean?

Question

What does the phrase, "life is a gift" mean?

Answer 1

in my terms, I think of life as a gift because it is also a privilege. Just like everything in life is. You earn you way through life. Going to school or work is a privilege. Or being a citizen is a privilege towards a country. Just some examples to help explain.

Answer 2

Life is a gift I guess to me it means were not guaranteed the next minute so take care of it

Answer 3

It means life is precious and by the undeserved kindness of God we were given life

Answer 4

b/c gifts (good ones anyway) are precious, just like life. and the saying

Answer 5

My first thought is; we did not "pay" for our life, it was given to us. A Gift!

My second thought is a popular poem...

Yesterday is history

Tomorrow is a mystery

Today is a gift- That is why it is called "THE PRESENT"

Answer 6

It means that you should appreciated it, especially because you didn't need to be born.  It is literally a gift from your parents.  They gave you life when they didn't have to, and as such you must take care of your life and nourish it, take advantage of it, yet don't take it for granted at the same time.

Answer 7

Life is a gift and should be lived fully, not treated indifferently, nor another life taken

The Sixth Commandment: Life Is a Precious Gift

"You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13).

http://www.ucg.org/booklets/tc/sixthcomm...

The child is God's gift to the family -  from Life is a gift from God - Mother Teresa

We hold from God the gift which includes all others. This gift is life - physical, intellectual, and moral life. - A Treatise on Man's Law

Life is a gift we're given each and every day.

Dream about tomorrow, but live for today."

Author Unknown, from LIFE IS FOR LIVING

Answer 8

I think it means we should be grateful. Even if the gift is equivalent to smelly socks, or an Xbox 360. We should appreciate it anywayss.