As my oldest daughter is approaching the end of her high school career, the reality has been setting in that she will not be home much longer. Before I know it, graduation will be here and she will go away to college. Don’t get me wrong. I am incredibly excited for her future. But where did the time go??? Wasn’t it just yesterday that I brought her home from the hospital as a newborn? This sobering truth has had me in deep thought about being faithful with the time I have been given with my children.  

The truth is that I have often found myself being occupied … okay I’ll say it: I feel like I am always BUSY.  From household chores, teaching my children, keeping in contact with loved ones, driving here, there, and everywhere, checking emails, serving at church … the list just goes on and on. So when I am approached by any of my children with a question or something they want to talk about, the inclination to say “Not now, I’m busy” presents itself. And I hate to admit it, but there have been times I have said it :(

However, with this increased awareness, I have been much more careful of how I utilize my time. I realized that there will always be SOMETHING to do, but will I always have this time when my babies want to just sit and share their hearts with me?

Creating this time has been life changing in our family.  Because our children know that we want to talk to them and hear what’s on their minds, they come to us.  Even last night, as I sat exhausted from the day and was attempting to prepare for school, my children came to me with some thoughts that were weighing heavily on their minds. It was nearly midnight when we went to bed! And I wouldn’t trade a second of it. Their conversation revealed struggles, as well as insight that God had given them and they sought our counsel and guidance.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 shows how there is an appointed time for everything and we need to take the time to do what is needed. Friend, my prayer for each of us is “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).  May our hearts desire to be good stewards of our time.

~Joyce