day 16

i borrowed wenling's copy of purpose driven life to (finally) read it through slowly and properly.. so an excerpt for my benefit:

Relationships, not achievements, or the acquisition of things, are what matters most in life. So why do we allow our relationships to get the short end of the stick? When our schedules become overloaded, we start skimming relationally, cutting back on giving the time, energy and attention that loving relationships require. What's most important to God is displacedby what's urgent.

Busyness is a great enemy of relationships. We become preoccupied with making a living, doing our work, paying bills, and accomplishing goals as if these tasks are the point of life. They are not. The point of life is learning to love -- God and people. Life minus love equals zero.

...

Time is your most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it. You can make more money, but you can't make more itme. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you'll never get back. your time is your life. that is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time.

It is not enough just to say relationships are important; we must prove it by investing time in them. Words alone are worthless. "My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action." Relationships take time and effort, and the best way to spell love is "T-I-M-E."

The essence of love is not what we think or do or provide for others, but how much we give of ourselves.


man i need to learn this.