I asked my daughter, “What was your favorite part of the trip? Maybe the beach, or karaoke night with the friends we made at camp, or maybe holding the alligators?” Megan looked up at me for a moment, then quietly said, “My favorite part was spending some time with you.”
Those words really hit me. “My favorite part was spending time with you.” Of all the fun things that we did on our trip, my daughter was happiest when I took a few minutes to spend some individual time with her.
Make Time For Things That Are Important
I've got 5 kids, so sometimes it is a little tough for me to get one on one time with each child. I'm trying to get better at that, and I feel like I am. I believe the key to making moments like this is to be intentional about what is important to you. Is your spouse important to you? If so, put them on your schedule. How about your kids? Schedule some quality time with them too!
In today's busy world, it is very easy to let work or other activities take over. Next thing you know, you aren't at home on a regular basis, or when you are, you are so tired that you are not spending time with your family. If you struggle with finding the time to do what is important, you should check out our workbook “Balance”.
A pastor who is a close friend of mine once told me, “Never once in all my years of counseling has a couple ever told me that they intended to grow apart. If you don't want that, you have to be very intentional about what you do want.”
Never once in all my years of counseling has a couple ever told me that they intended to grow apart. If you don't want that, you have to be very intentional about what you do want.
Schedule the time, take a date night alone with your spouse each week to come together and keep those fires burning. Is your spouse not at least as important as a meeting at work? Schedule vacations with the family to make memories, even if it is just a timeout at home for a few days. Schedule time to put your own oxygen mask on from time to time as well and take care of yourself physically and mentally. As the airline stewardess will tell you, you aren't much good to anyone around you if you forget to take care of yourself by taking a breath of air from time to time.
Be intentional about your time and schedule those things that are important to you, and one day, you may have someone look at you and say, “My favorite part was spending some time with you.”