Time Well Spent

We had a wonderful time on vacation last week. Actually, the word wonderful does not even do justice to the fabulousness (is that a word?) of our week.

My husband and I and the kids, even though we spent about 25 or so hours in the car cumulative, had a sweet, memorable week together. We stayed busy each day, with different activities, hanging out poolside, playing on the beach, shopping and sight seeing. All of those things were great - but the greatest thing about the week - was time.

As I have grown older, in the past few years I have come to recognize within myself that my love language leans strongly towards time. Nothing means more to me than a special date night with my husband, or some quality time with the kids. I truly love being together, regardless of where we are or what we are doing. In fact one of my favorite past times, is sitting on the deck with my family in the warm weather, listening to Jimmy Buffet on the CD player, watching Michael cook chicken wings on the grill and the kids jumping on the trampoline.

Dont get me wrong - I love me some vacations now! My amazing husband, who always takes us to great places, will attest to that. But time with my family is what I truly treasure.

I started thinking this evening, how much God treasures time too. He is the creator of time, and holds all time in His hands, but what is truly important to Him, is that we spend time with Him.

Nearing the end of last week, I woke up early one morning, and felt burdened and restless. I realized that I had not spent any time with God that week. I had been too busy enjoying the blessings that God had brought into my life, to enjoy spending time with Him. Even though I had taken my Bible with me, with every intention of doing my daily reading, each day seemed to pass without my doing it. So I laid there, in no rush to get up, and talked to God for a while. It was good. :)

But I wonder, if while I was scurrying throughout my week, if God longed to spend time with me, the same way I long to spend time with my family, and husband? Knowing how much time is important to Him, I feel confident that He did.

1 Corinthians 1:9 explains that God desires to spend time with us, when it says "God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful." (NIV) The NLT Bible reads that he invited us into partnership with Him.

God desires for us to spend time with Him, enjoying fellowship with Him, and when we do, we engage in the most important partnership, and friendship, in our life.

The good thing is that as a result of the many hours in the car that we spent driving last week, I had plenty of time to get caught up on my daily reading, and it was great! Now I cant exactly say it was quiet time, thanks to the 3 kids in the back who thought their sole purpose for the day was to disagree on what movie to watch, where to get food, who used whose IPOD, who has to sit in the back, and who gets to hold the fuzzy blanket - but it was time with God, nonetheless!

I have finally come to understand the importance of daily quiet time with God. I so regret all the years I spent not doing that. It regenerates me, and excites me. It helps me feel lighter, and more hopeful and joyful. It helps me keep the hardships of life in perspective. But most importantly, it helps me feel refreshed and renewed.

Today, I am feeling refreshed, from my vacation time to my quiet time.

Refreshed, from the physical body, to the emotional heart.

Refreshed, from time spent with the most important people in my life, to time spent with the One who refreshes me from the inside out.

I would say last week, was time well spent. Smiles.