Why is time so hard to give?

I've come to the realization, especially after Christmas, that the gift I want to give is time and the gift I most want to receive is time.

We all have the same amount of time in a day, but not the same amount of time in a lifetime. Our pastor was preaching about the opportunities of service that are available to all of us. He ended his sermon with a poem called "The Dash". It talks about living in the "dash" -- that time between the date of our birth and the date of our death. The question asks, "how are you going to live your dash?" This is a poem I have seen several times on the Internet but this time it struck home.

I thought of my children and started to wonder how I'm helping them live THEIR dash.

In talking to a dear friend of mine, we discussed how when our children were younger we had the luxury of time to invest and calculate each movement of our parenting plan. We could plan our lives around the execution of that plan and see results.

Now...as lifes momentum has increased we seem to be running to keep up with the ever changing pace of ever increasing change in an ever increasing schedule. Our well layed plans now consist more of making sure dinner is in bellies, homework is completed and outside time commitments are met ... all while keeping track of the ever important bed time hour.

My very loving and tender God has reminded me over the last several weeks that schedule is not His priority. As He has showm me before, the journey is where the riches are to be found.
I am a hard study with the lesson rarely being fully appreciated the first time around.

The greatest thing I can give my children, my husband, my friends, my God and myself is time. Taking time to give time...makes time.

How much of our lives as well as our children's lives belong to other things? The things that would fill-in "the dash". Many of those things are valid and proper. My husband has a job that expects his time so that he can rightfully expect the paycheck he receives. My children's school requires their time so they can require an education. My daily routine requires my attention so that I am able to give attention to the family I love.

Time goes quickly when you have children. You watch them grow and it all becomes a blur. What seemed like a stage that would never end is now a memory you are hard pressed to recall.

If I want my children to enjoy and appreciate life so they make the most of their "dash" I can't treat this life as if it were a dash - a quick sprint where you burn yourself out and only see passing objects as foggy shadows.

Our lives are marathons that we train for while we are running them. Our race needs to be methodical and steady. It demands discipline and perseverance. It creates dedication to the journey so that we are prepared for the destination.

I am so grateful to have my God who loves me so personally and so tenderly. He waits patiently for me at the end of my sprints. He puts His arms around me and walks with me while I heave to catch me breath. He gently reminds me that pace matters. He shows me where He has made time for me to sit and take in all He longs to teach me.

Look at your pace. How is that pace affecting your children? We are to be like our Heavenly Father and be the still small voice at the end of the day guiding our children. We need to be leading them to the feet of the Savior.

The gift of time has already been given. MAKE the time valuable by spending it wisely.