The Benefits of Making Time

We are all very busy.  It is hard to find someone, no anyone, who will tell you they have a lot of time on their hands. Instead, when you ask someone about life they will often reply something along the line of "There are not enough hours in the day" or "I really need eight days in a week to get everything accomplished." Here's a good one, "I have so much to do and not enough time to do it." 

Time was made this past weekend for a 13 year old named Colin.  He's one of the grandsons.  He had been promised by his grandfather a few weeks back that he would come and watch him play soccer because the last time his "grandpa" was in the area he was injured and couldn't play.  This was not one of those events that required a trip of a few block or across town.  It's two and a half hours one way.  His grandmother had established a tradition long ago of taking the grand kids out for their birthday for lunch and a present.  "Colin's "grandma" was in another state on this latest visit so "grandpa", for the first time, took on the birthday duties.  Lunch was at one his favorite places for "shrimp" and then it was on to a book store to get the latest two editions in a literary series Colin was reading.  ( They were on his birthday and Christmas list)  When grandpa took him home he was told a hug was needed for grandpa and grandma too.  It was the strongest  hug I had had in a long time.

The subsequent two and a half hour drive was a joy.  I was in the clouds.  The connection made that day is one I will never forget and it provide a valuable lesson or two.  I could have stayed home but if I had I would have missed the blessing of getting to know one of the grand children a little better and I would have missed a gift that was for me.  Some may know this and for some this may be news but when you give..often times what you are giving to gives back.  In this case is was conversation, a hug and a smile or two.  Plus a care free drive home.  I count four Benefits of Making Time and that is a pretty good return on the investment.  So the next time you find yourself presented with a similar situation whether it be family or something else...make the time.  All the other "stuff" can wait.  But these precious opportunities don't come by all that often.