When I was just 12 years old, I knew what time my Dad came home from work. He would be gone at 5:30 in the morning and it was always 6:00 p.m. when he got home. For him it was a quick dinner and then out on the tractor until dark, so my time with him was limited for any real communication. As early as February in Ohio, I would bundle up, get out my baseball glove and softball then wait on the back porch steps.
When he got out of the car, he would lay his briefcase on the rock wall and I would toss the ball to him. He would play catch with me for about five minutes and then it was off the dinner and his evening work load. This practice continued every weekday until I was 17. In all the things I did with and around my father, those few moments of one on one time are etched in my brain forever.
When my children were growing up, I worked three jobs at a time to make ends meet but my best memories were when I could spend just a few minutes with my daughter and her tea parties or my son kicking a soccer ball or other things he enjoyed doing.
Today I am focusing on life and rushing around putting in long days while running two businesses, serving at church, working on the farm, or just helping the town chamber of commerce. So when it comes to something that needs to be done, I rationalize that I am just too busy.
It is with all the activities that some things get put on the shelf. Some days it is prayer time, devotional time, time for my wife, time for other people, or even time for myself. Then I find Bill Hybel’s book, “Too Busy Not to Pray”. OK Lord, - great sense of humor that it is laying around for me to find. (This is a good read for any busy person)
I know that my priorities are messed up so I take time to refocus on what is really important. I think, "What is important to you?" Job, cars, property, boats, fishing, sports?
My hope is that the most important things we should do is to invest our personal time with the Lord each day. Next is to spend time with your children and your spouse. When you have those priorities in order, you will be amazed how much time you have for everything else that is a must do.
Quit rationalizing that you are too busy, but focus on the Lord and family. Everything else WILL fall into place. Trust me that the Lord will bless you more when the focus is on others and you will build memories with your children that will last far beyond your lifetime.
I know that as a fact, so what memories are you creating this week?