Precious Commodity

I think most people would agree on the most precious commodity.
It is the thing we value most in relationships.
It is the thing our children value most from us.
It is something that is greatly influenced by our hectic schedules.

The most precious commodity is time.
Time set aside to be together.
Time set aside to talk.
Time set aside for ourselves.

We sometimes think it is selfish to carve out time for ourselves.
However, we couldn’t be more wrong.
Carving out time for ourselves is necessary, even mandatory.
That time for ourselves looks different to every person.

Perhaps some people enjoy stillness and quiet so they can rejuvenate.
Others may choose to take a walk or ride a bike.
Some people may choose to read or work on a project.
Others may paint, or draw, or take photographs.

Whatever a person may choose, the point is that time for yourself is vitally important.
In our over committed, over scheduled society we have lost the sense of stillness.
Downtime means that we are just not busy enough.
Keeping up with everyone else has kept us running on the hamster wheel for far too long.

Unscheduled time for our children is so important.
They need to learn how to do nothing.
Doing nothing can be very productive, if they learn how to use that downtime well.
They can tap into their creative side, read a book, write in a journal, or even draw.

Time with our spouse is so important.
That is usually the relationship that falls by the wayside.
After all, there are car pools, and sports practices, and multiple games on the weekend.
A quick peck on the cheek and falling into bed exhausted is par for the course.

We have all been there.
If truth be told, sometimes we are still there at one time or another.
It is not a matter of not loving the other person.
It is just a matter of  only so many hours in a day.

Mothers have experienced this dilemma.
Mothers who are also wives, who are also women need to find time for all the roles they hold.
It is very easy for wives or husbands to feel as if they come in second, or third, or fourth.
I remember it well.

I remember the years when my five children were in five different schools.
The schools were in the same district; redistricting and new school buildings were the reason.
It made back-to-school nights quite interesting.
I kept things straight with color coded markers for each child on my calendar.

We allowed our children to have one activity each.
However, with five of them having one activity each, it still meant a lot of driving.
It meant a lot of coordination.
It meant a lot of planning.

Those were the years that time was the most precious commodity.
Those were the years that alone time was scarce.
Those were the years that my husband felt like he came in second.
Those were the years that seemed to go by in a blur.

I had an idea.
I had a way to make my husband feel special.
It meant a trip to the local craft store.
It meant a little creativity on my part.

We had wrought iron hooks on our fireplace mantle.
Baskets and cast iron pots hung there.
I decided to make something that, when hung, would let him know the time was ours.
I wrapped it up and gave it to him as a gift that particular Christmas.

It was a simple wooden star.
On the front I stenciled, OUR TIME.
I put a hemp string loop through the top so the star could be hung.
I wrote a short poem and placed it on the back of the star.

This is just a little way
To have a bit of time.
To tell me what you’re dreaming
To speak what’s on your mind.
It says a lot in these few words
And is plain for all to see
That when this star is hanging there
It’s time for you and me!!!

The star was given to my husband on Christmas Day.
I gave it to him on December 25, 2000.
That was almost seventeen years ago.
It was used occasionally, but not nearly as often as I had intended.

The gift mattered to him.
To anyone who saw it hanging there, it was just a wooden star with the words, OUR TIME.
To us, we knew what it said behind the star.
We knew the why and wherefore of the gift.

I put a verse on that star as well.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. (1 John 4:18)
Our love was not perfect; our love is still not perfect.
One Love and one Love alone is perfect.

That perfect Love is God’s love for us.
No earthly love can even come close to the unconditional, perfect Love of the Father.
God instituted marriage to depict the love of Christ and His church.
Jesus is our Bridegroom and we are His bride.

I thought of the star, which I keep in a little country basket.
I thought of all the reasons why I made the star in the first place.
Time together is not a problem now that our children are grown.
The star served a purpose when it was needed most.

However, I think I will keep the star out again.
This time the star is for my Bridegroom.
This time the star will remind me to have time alone with my Lord Jesus.
The star will remind me that it is time for Jesus and me to spend together.

It is OUR TIME, sweet Jesus.

 

2 responses to “Precious Commodity”

1. Love this!

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   • Thank you, friend!

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