The Gift of Time

Time: An appointed, fixed, or customary moment or hour for something to happen, begin, or end.


The hustle and bustle of Christmas is now behind us and a brand new year is soon coming upon us. 2010. "Twenty-Ten" as many are saying. Hard to believe isn't it?



It's that "time" of year for many to make resolutions about what they desire to accompish within the next 365 days after the "ball drops".



For me, however, I have been feeling in my heart that time should be my main focus for 2010. I shared this with some friends of mine and was happy to hear they felt the same way.


Time cannot be bought. Every minute that passes cannot be repeated. Time turns seconds into minutes, minutes into hours, hours into days, days into months, and months into years. Time is priceless.

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven; A time to be born, A time to die, ...a time to kill and a time to heal..a time to weep and a time to laugh..a time to mourn and a time to dance...a time of war and a time for peace.." (Ecclesiastes 3)


The world seems to be screaming louder and louder, "I HAVE NO TIME!!" Everything is done in an instant, from food to mail. A push of a button can send a letter or cook a bowl of oatmeal. Seriously, we can't even get a pot out and heat the water up the "old fashioned way". And GOD forbid we write a real letter with a real envelope and send it with a real stamp!! NOOOOOO!! There is nothing worse than when you're trying to have a deep conversation with someone that has to text while you're talking. WOW that makes someone feel REAL important! It's instant gratification 24/7. And I am tired of this.



I don't want to get caught up in what the world is doing anymore. I don't want a dumb text to be the centrality of my communication with loved ones. I don't desire instantaneous emails to replace a card in the mail (by the way, I HATE E-CARDS! WHAT AN INSULT!) And I don't want to be so jammed up in my day that I don't even have time to think about the time I don't have time to think about. (Just reread that..you will get it..in time LOL)


I am tired. Point blank. Tired. I am sick and tired of all my systematic order of things. "Hold it right there, Sister Christian! God is a GOD OF ORDER!" People say the dumbest things, especially self-righteous ones that wanna twist God's Word to fit into their stoic, unrelenting schedules that they think God approves us. Let us remember what the Lord said to Martha and Mary. (OUCH..did I strike a nerve??) Jesus, the Master, approved of quality time. Let us remember that in the midst of Jesus being "really busy", someone touched Him, and HE STOPPED to find out who it was. Jesus, the Creator of time, took time to find out who took the time to touch Him. And if you remember, that woman was healed of a life-long infirmity.


Take a minute. Think of someone you really care about..maybe your husband, your children, your mom, a good friend, a neighbor. Ask yourself when was the last time you gave them "quality time". Not the "I've only got one second to spend with you" time. No. Real quality time where the phone, tv, computer was turned off and you gave someone complete, undivided, loving attention. I understand this cannot happen every second of everyday. But it can happen at some point in our day.


Go outside. Take time to smell the flowers. Or the next time you see a baby, take time to enjoy his laughter, or his crying for that matter! Ask your waitress how her day is going, and really care to take the time to listen. Listen to your children conversate. Enjoy the innocence of their youth, for in time, that innocence will be replaced by "grown up talk" way too fast. Your spouse...ahhh..yeah, that one that gets up routinely..hops in the shower, gets dressed, and is out the door to work. Take time to maybe..I don't know..hop in the shower with him? Or walk him to the door. Or just listen to what he has planned for the day. Or just give him a sweet smile. Do something out of the ordinary. You don't know-none of us know-the time we have left with anyone dear to us. Make the most of every moment.


Gotta cut this short. Gonna go make time for my two teenagers who are in their rooms giggling amongst themselves about "teenage stuff". I want them to know that their lives matter to me. I want to give them that priceless gift. I want to make the most out of every single blessed moment God has given me with them. Before time passes too fast and they are off to live their lives.


Take time. Give time. Make time. Cherish time. Appreciate time. Above all, love time!



XtremeFaith