Time is precious, and we get these moments only once. It’s why we try and have family traditions, like family nights, family dinners with all ten of us, holidays, selfies together, gathering together to watch our favourite sitcoms, the annual Christmas tree photo, movies, BBQs, birthday parties every year, and family outing days.
I think God smiles when we value relationships and seek to bless others by opening the doors to our home and family. God loves family, and when we invite others into our lives. It makes us bigger and better people because, let’s face it, left to our own devices, we can all get a little set in our ways.
When we are around people, whether a blood relative or someone you now call “family” we can often be confronted with our quirks and perhaps some issues we might need to address. That’s often how God grows us. It’s easy to get along with people when it’s just you! The bible says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”. (Proverbs 27:17) Those people who can irritate us may be the making of us.
Today, take a look around you and give thanks to the people in your world, whether your immediate relatives or the other people in your world. God has brought them into your world to support and help you and vice versa.
Here are some ideas to value your time together:
Make a plan to set aside time to spend together regularly. If you don’t look for opportunities, the busyness of life will no doubt swallow the time up, so make an effort to make it happen.
Make traditions – they can be a good thing.
Value those in your world – time goes quickly, and these moments are precious. If you haven’t taken the opportunity in the past, decide to start now.
Forgive – let grudges go and look to the future. Ask God to help you know what and how to move past hurts so that you can build something new.
Look at what you already have, not only at others’ faults. People are flawed, and yes, fickle at times. Choose to focus on the positives and what you can relate to. Sometimes what holds us together may be just a thread, but hold onto that thread.
Don’t look back and think, “I wish I had done that or made more time”. Start today.
Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the people in my world. Help me value these relationships and make the most of every opportunity to enjoy the time we share. Help me to focus on the positives that bring us together. In Jesus Name Amen.
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