Your Time is Valuable, Our Time Together is Optimal

One of the highlights of my week is brief 20-30 minute visit to a local school simply to read. I’m surrounded by about fifteen children, all around the age of 5, and allowed to share a story with them. They join me as we travel through lands where WILD THINGS roam and CATEPILLARS eat everything in sight and SANTA nearly wakes up the children. They ask questions and offer their thoughts, sometimes unsolicited…mostly unsolicited, but it’s awesome nonetheless. For 30 minutes I’m allowed to speak into the lives of the future. Now, I know, it’s a world of fantasy and make-believe, I’m not communicating biblical truths and trying to introduce them to Jesus…we simply share some time with each other.

They willingly give me their time.

They eagerly give me their attention.

They allow me to share a moment in their lives.

Getting around children is probably some of the BEST medicine I can get in this world. I LOVE the absolute raw honesty of a child. They aren’t held by the possibility of offending. They don’t comprehend the concept of inappropriate.

When they laugh, it’s because something is funny.

When they cry, it’s because their feelings are hurt.

When they hug, it’s because they LOVE you.

In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul speaks a good bit on the subject of love. Here’s some of what he had to say:

Love is patient.

Love is kind.

Love is not jealous.

Love is not boastful.

Love is not proud.

Love is not rude.

Love does not demand its own way.

Love is not irritable.

Love keeps no record of being wronged.

Love does not rejoice about injustice.

Love rejoices whenever truth wins out.

Love never gives up.

Love never loses faith.

Love is always hopeful.

Love endures through every circumstance.

Love will last forever.

Love is the greatest of these.

30 minutes out of my week is set aside to be love to those who may not FEEL loved. For 30 minutes out of my week I’m able to connect with the very people whom Jesus said my faith should model: children.

God give me ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart that is open to what these children are to TEACH ME.

How are you spending your time this week?