Be Present

 

 

Lately have you found yourself caught up in making a living that you’ve neglected to make a life? A life with: family and friends, a life for yourself, a life of care and regard towards others?

Many of us have become experts at multi-tasking. Even so, that only brings us to the real question; when we finally get around to scheduling time with family and friends, are we really present?

How many times have your children, your spouse, your friends or extended family asked you to play a game, or join them for any occasion, and you make the commitment to go. Yet, when you’re with them, you’re on your phone, or at the park with your children working on your laptop.

Let’s not blame all of our disconnections on technology. We’ve all been guilty of hanging out with family and friends, but we don’t engage in conversation. We seclude ourselves because your mind’s preoccupied with our day, our problems, and our worries?

This blog isn’t to make anyone feel bad; it’s about raising the awareness of our need to be present. The Bible says that our time on earth is but for a moment. In addition, our time to raise our children in our homes, will be gone before we know it. If we don’t want to miss life’s most precious moments, we must make the most of our available time.

We identify ourselves as a productive family. Although we try to keep a balanced approach to all that we do, we have recognized areas that needed to change.

You may remember when we spoke about our family dinners? We’ve shared that no matter what’s on the schedule or what’s going on; everyone must be home for dinner. This gives us the opportunity to connect and have intimate conversations.

Although we love our family dinners, we’ve recently initiated a no cell phone zone. We wish we came up with that ourselves, but we didn’t. Last year, we saw on Pinterest a basket with a sticky note that said; Cell Phones. Be with the family and friends who are here!

Timberley being the creative woman whom she is, couldn’t resist the temptation to make one for our family that matches our home décor. And so she did, hence the blog photo!

When we gather at the table to eat, have family time on the couch, or game nights, we have now entered the no phone zone.

This simple box isn’t limited to just cell phones; it has actually raised the awareness to be present at any moment, we find ourselves with the ones we love. Too many times, we talk to each other while doing something else. Too many times, we say we’re spending time together, while NOT spending time with each other but doing our “own thing” in each other’s presence.

The best gift you can give someone is your time, because you can never get that back. Work will always be there; the laundry will always need to be done, and there will always be a fire that needs to be put out. However, your spouse, your children, and your friends, need you right now! They need undivided attention that shows them how much they matter, and that they are our priority.

No matter how chaotic you think your life is, purpose to be present, it cost nothing but can mean everything!

~André and Timberley Gray