Monday, October 10, 2011

October 11, 2011

Wow, what a week! I've been busy promoting the business, getting the kids to and from school, doing classes, cleaning, cooking, well, you get the picture. The highlight of my week, however, was Saturday afternoon and evening. It started at five o'clock when my adult and teen dance ministries presented two dances at a neighborhood church. It was so awesome to see my older two sons and two of the female teens present a piece that addresses useless teen violence and being ready for your time, no matter when that is. The music was "Chariots" by Brian McKnight (see below) and they truly touched some hearts during their presentation. The adults were equally inspiring as the danced to Angie Winans' version of "The Lord's Prayer". From there, my sons and I went to a friend's house to spend an evening playing "Michael Jackson" and "Just Dance 2" on the Wii. My friend's mother was in town visiting and so there was a house full of people, adults and kids, playing and laughing, scarfing pizza and sodas and just basically having a good time. It was so much fun and I felt truly blessed to be included as "one of the family" for the night.

There is nothing like friends and family. When my kids were younger and I wasn't so single, I used to have "dates" with my kids individually and as a family. Once a month, each child had a morning or afternoon or sometimes, we could only squeeze in a few hours, with just me. Walks, trips to the mall, breakfast, a movie - all my undivided attention on him or her and all his or hers on me. Those are moments I wouldn't trade for the world. Sometimes, it meant a work deadline was a little late or I didn't get that extra hour of sleep, but the joy of a smile, a laugh, a shared inside joke, a tear, a compromise.....to coin the phrase "priceless".

In this time of our rush-rush, hurry-hurry, microwave society, sometimes we forget to stop and see the people around us that we are "working for", "sacrificing for", "taking care of". Start small, take 5 minutes each week for the special ones in your life. Jot a sticky note of thanks, turn off the cell phone and tell a joke or listen to really bad one, share a cup of coffee, make a memory. When everything is said and done, over and gone, those are things that will carry on.

My friend told me that her doctor once asked her "If you had twenty-four hours left to live, what are the five things you would do in that time?" I know what I would do, what would you do?

16 comments:

  1. What a great reminder that we need to stop and enjoy time with our family and friends.

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  2. You're right. Where are rushing to that causes us to set aside family, friends and actually living.

    Time to take a second look at things before it's too late.

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  3. How true... we need to slow down and smell the roses.

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  4. you´re right! there´s nothing like family and friends!! we have to take time to share with our loved ones... Thank you for sharing this inspiring post! :)

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  5. Wonderful post to remind us all to slow down and enjoy what is around us!

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  6. Steve Jobs said that & tried to live that way, great reminder

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  7. haha - I laugh while I still can- nice question the doctor asked... it would take me 24 hrs to decide... hopefully I'd get another 24 because of that...

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  8. Good question...probably spend lots of time with my family!

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  9. Thanks for your words and thoughts! Artists help us smell the roses and notice the color purple every day they create something!

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  10. Great advice.... My friend taught me one that has stuck for the last 10 years... I use it with ny children all the time....

    Is it more important to be right, or more important to have a relationship??

    I've been choosing the relationship over right ever since she gave this bit of advice to me..it's made a difference with my children!

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  11. Wonderful reminder of what we should be doing. Thank you.

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  12. Thanks for the reminder of what's important, friends and family.

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  13. Great article—thanks so much for sharing such an important message! *Ü*

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  14. Thanks, I could use more reminders to take it down a notch

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  15. Thank you so much for such a beautiful post! Just what I needed to hear today! After a hard day at work, I really needed some inspiration. Thanks again =) I am your newest follower.

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