Time part 1
Of the Three T's (Time, Talent, Treasure) I think this is the most important one. Because I think children--and really people in general--spell love "T-I-M-E." You can always make more money. And talent is something that eveybody has (it's just a matter of using it). But time, once it is spent, never comes back. Once it's gone, it's gone. We only have so much of it. And that makes it valuable. Invaluable. The most valuable. Look at the words of Jesus, the red letters, in John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Or, in the Message Bible, "This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends." Give what you've got. And, as I hope we are starting to see, that doesn't mean writing a check. Especially if you're like me. I'm more in the Peter persuasion, "Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6). I may not have much, but I'll give you what I've got. I'll lay my life down for you. I'll tell you I've got your back and then I'll actually back that claim up. I'll give you an ear if you need to talk. A hug if you need to feel safe. I'll give you everything I have and everything I am. I'll lay my life down for you. That's the greatest love a man can have. That's the most important thing a man (or woman, come on) can do. Giving yourself. Giving your time. Putting others first. Esteeming others higher than yourself. And it doesn't always have to be some big huge gesture. I don't really like board games. But I play them with my son pretty regularly. Because he loves them... and I love him. See how that works? It's not about getting, or doing, what I want all the time. It's about giving myself to people. I always talk about seeing a need and meeting it. And about how needs are more important than wants. And I'm not going against that. Because I believe that to the core of my being. I simply want to add something to that: If you can make someone's day... if you can make someone smile... do it. Because the world needs more of that. We're so used to people just trying to take advantage of us that we think we need to be on our guard 24/7. We think we need to always be on the lookout. Always defending ourselves. But that's a hard way to live, man. I understand that once you've been burned you want to stay away from the fire. It makes "sense" to shut your heart down and "guard" it from getting hurt again. But that's not what the heart is for. You keep your heart by keeping it open. By letting love flow into and out of it. I guess what I'm trying to say today, and for the next few days, is that you can't love people without connecting with them. And you can't really connect with people without spending time with them. Time is the most important, valuable thing you have. So spend it wisely. Do what you've got to do, yes. But make sure you understand that what you've really got to do is share your time. Share yourself. Spend time with the people you love. That's how you show them that you love them!