On the race thus far, I have learned so much about myself and my relationship with God, but I have also learned so much about my relationships with other people. One thing God has impressed on my heart recently is the importance of being intentional with those you love and making the most of every moment He has given you with them. As the Father has been leading me in this, He has also led me to share it with all of you.
So much of our day is spent doing things and talking about things that don’t actually matter. That is, things that have little to no eternal value. We all are guilty of this. One thing we humans are really good at, especially in our media-filled world, is wasting time. Who else starts to check their Instagram or Facebook and an hour later realizes they’re looking at random photos or videos for no good reason? It can’t just be me. Who then later finds themselves discussing one of these random photos or videos in their conversation? Guilty again? My point is, we tend to fill our time and conversation with superficial fluff.
But what if we chose not to? What if we took this time and conversation with the people we love to talk about things that actually matter. What if we took the time to tell our loved ones how we feel about them, how much we love and appreciate them, or how they have impacted our lives. What if we took it a step further, (and in my opinion, a more difficult direction) and asked them about their life. How they are really doing, what God has taught them lately, what they are struggling with, or how we could be praying for them. I know saying these things and asking and answering these questions can be difficult and awkward. In our culture we aren’t accustomed to talking about hard things. It is much easier to revert back to our old, superficial conversation, but please don’t for your sake, for the sake of the people you love, and for the sake of your relationships with the people you love.
My challenge to you (and to myself) is to take the time and courage to say these hard things and to ask these hard questions. As humans we are made for intimacy. We are made to know and to be known, not only by our Father in heaven, but also by our family and friends on earth. How can we do this if we don’t step out in boldness and love and talk about the things that actually matter with the people that matter to us. So please, the next time you see your parents, or your child, or your sibling, or your friend, seek to know them more through your time and conversation.
