3 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13
The past two weekends I have traveled out of town to be with family. One event was a Graduation celebration for my grand niece, and the other was with one hundred and fifty family members from all over the country. Both weekends were filled with fun food and lots of laughter, and we even attended Church together last Sunday.
What I realized at both events is how special time with family is. Our lives get so busy with work, chores and other commitments, that if we are not careful, over time we can easily start to grow further and further away from our family.
I work a lot, and I always have something on my calendar, but what I realized these last two weekends is that I need to stop more often and just enjoy life. I truly enjoyed being around my family and friends, I saw cousins, aunts nieces, nephews and uncles that I hadn’t seen in quite some time. I became acquainted with new little cousins that I had never met before. What a blessing it was just to take a moment and breathe, and to do something fun with those that I love most.
In God’s Word we are told to number our days. In other words, pay attention. Life is going by. Take time to find joy in each and every day. Also God’s Word tells us that there is a time for everything. When your family has set a time to gather, make a plan to be there. Don’t assume that there will be a next time. Make a plan today to do something fun with those that you love most. It may require some adjustments to your schedule but I promise it will be worth it. I think that when it’s over and everyone is going their separate ways you will be glad and grateful that you not only invested time in your family but also in yourself.
