I thank God for a lot of the writers in the world today. Through the gift of their writing, I have grown and been encouraged throughout the years in so many ways, and I enjoy passing the blessings on to others.
When I came across this devotion below written by an unknown author, it made me take a look at the way I spent my time. See, I had been yearning for more fellowship with God and people, but I wasn’t quite sure what steps I had to take to make it a reality. I just knew after reading this, I had to do something different. because in the end, I don’t want to be a person who wishes they spent more time with the people who meant the most to them or wish I exerted more effort into helping and to make a difference in other’s lives, instead of focusing on things in this life.
The devotion is titles:
Friends
“As I think about friendship, I wonder if I had my life to live over, how
differently I would live it.
Would I invited more friends over for dinner, even if it were just for a
hamburger fry or macaroni and cheese? Would I have sat on the lawn
more often with my neighbors and visited while we watched the children
play?
Would I have cried more often with them when appropriate, and laughed
more often when that was in order? Would I have said, “I’m sorry,” more often?
I want to be more like the kind of friend found in this acrostic:F – Fun loving, Feeling of acceptance; Faithful
R – Risk being real, understood even misunderstood
I – Interested in the welfare of others; Impartial
E – Expect the best of others; Empathetic
N – Natural relationship, a wholesome acceptance of others;
Non-exclusive
D – Diplomatic; Delightful to be with; Durable in hard times
S – Sympathetic; Supportive with prayer and help; Stable
H – Helpful; Hopeful; Healing; Happy
I – Interdependent by helping others
P- Patient, Protective of reputation and confidences; Pleasant to be with;
PersonableIf I were given another opportunity at life and friendship, I would seize
every minute of it! I would look at it and really see it and live it for Jesus.”
Unknown Author
I think back to growing up in a small city, my street was long, and was divided into two parts. I lived on the lower end along with multiple family members that I had the privilege of sharing the street with. My immediate family lived on the first floor of a two story home, with my grandparents who lived upstairs.
Across the street to the left of our house is where my great grandmother lived. Next to her was one of my grandfather’s sisters. A couple of houses up the street from us was my grandfather’s brother. Across from them was a cousin on my father’s side, and directly across the street was my best friend who moved to the US from Italy when I was 5 years old, her name was Rosa.
Most weekends our families would gather at one of our houses. The grownups would play cards and my brother and I would be outside playing hide and seek, dodge ball, or if the weather was bad, indoors playing games, with friends and cousins. I love how we shared our lives together, in much simpler times.
However, as the years passed by responsibilities became a reality for us younger adults, and as the culture began to change and get busier, our lives as friends and family seem to move in different directions. Now, those times we shared are no more than fond memories that I am thankful to have.
Since then I have had many new acquaintances, but only few friendships that have been dear to my heart. But I’m struggling with making time for not only our family, but those dear friends that I have made through the years. So when I read the above devotion for the first time it really hit home for me. Did it for you?
I’m a person who believes, if you’re unhappy with situations in your life don’t just complain about it, do what you can to change it. There isn’t anything wrong with trying to improve the quality of your life.
After re-evaluating my life, I realized it was time to make some changes that would enable me to spend more time with family, grandchildren and friends. That’s when I decided to cut down my hours at work. But I quickly came to the conclusion; it was harder than I thought to spread my time out among those I love.
So after initially becoming frustrated that I still didn’t have enough time to be with all of my family and friends that I love, my calendar became a very important part of the solution. Now I coordinate a date, and we put it in the calendar even if it has to be a month in advance. I find when we make it a priority to carve out time, it avoids months of saying to each other, “We have to get together soon.”
Since I’ve been consistent with this commitment, I’m feeling more joy in my life, and I am thankful that I still had time to make the changes that needed to be made, to enjoy and be there for the people I love the most. No regrets!
“If you never had friends, you never lived life.”
