My hubby and I are staying for a few days with a dear family member while his wife is getting a much-needed break and attending their grandson’s wedding several hours away. Our loved one is on oxygen and generally in pain, so he was unable to make the trip at this time.  (I’m not sharing his name here out of respect for him in this season of life. Let’s call him Joe.)

As the three of us were sitting at breakfast this morning, Joe thanked us profusely for being here, but then he also apologized several times for “not having anything to give us” in return.  It was then that I realized he was giving us one of the most precious gifts:  the gift of time. We are so grateful for these days with him as we become increasingly aware that he will not be with us forever. Additionally, in the usual busy-ness of our lives at home, I seldom allow myself time to just sit and read, write, and reflect as I’ve had the opportunity to do here. There is always “just one more load of laundry,” “just one more ‘quick’ phone call to make or ‘quick’ email to respond to,” or “just one more _______” to do and then I’ll sit down.

What a valuable commodity this time has been with our loved one! Fewer screens. More face-to-face time. Less harried conversations. More quiet. Less distracting “static.” More real-time connections.

So, how about you? When was the last time you gave “the gift of time” to your spouse? Your teen? A neighbor? God?

Can I challenge you to carve out three hours (random number) this week — all at once or split up over a few different people — to give the gift of time? You’ll be glad that you did, and can I just say — it will truly be a “win-win.”

I’ll close with a few of the wise words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes on a photo from a recent vacation:

Go enjoy some healing, laughing, and maybe even some dancing time!

Lisa

Remember. Celebrate. Trust.