As my week back home in Baptist Country was drawing to a close, I pondered who I had gotten to see for a substantial amount of time and who I wanted to spend more time with.
The friends I am closest to, naturally, fit into the "I want more time!" category. But I began to wonder, how much more time did I want? If life and other obligations were no object, how much time would be sufficient with them?
Forever.
I wanted to stay in their apartment forever. I wanted to sit in their offices and chat days away. I wanted to never ever leave again.
Of course, an infinite amount of time with my friends would be fun.
But I decided that's what kind of relationship I want with the Lord. I want to lock myself in the prayer room and never come out. I want to sit at His feet and never move. I want to rest on the chest of my Abba Father.
Forever.
<>< Katie
Showing posts with label quality time. Show all posts
Showing posts with label quality time. Show all posts
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Little Moments Matter
After I got out of my three-hour class this afternoon, I noticed something unique on my walk back to my apartment. It was the dog that caught my attention but the kid that kept it. A golden retriever, a mom, and a young son were playing in the grass. It was wonderful to watch them from a distance. Honestly, I could not figure out who was having the most fun.
Between classes today, I ran in to town with some friends. Andy told a story I hadn't heard before and it touched my heart.
A few weeks ago he was in a store and he noticed a little boy wearing a plastic hat and a fake police badge. The boy noticed Andy's EMS jacket and his jaw dropped. Andy knelt next to the boy and they compared badges. In their brief conversation Andy explained he doesn't drive a police car but rather an ambulance. A little while later Andy saw the boy again, hat in hand instead of on his head.
"Mom," he said, "I'm not going to be a police officer. I'm going to be a paramedic!"
To Andy, it was a sacrifice of two minutes. To this little boy, it was the world.
Take the time to notice, talk to, or play with a child sometime soon. To you it's not a lot of time lost, to them it's an infinite amount of time gained.
<>< Katie
Between classes today, I ran in to town with some friends. Andy told a story I hadn't heard before and it touched my heart.
A few weeks ago he was in a store and he noticed a little boy wearing a plastic hat and a fake police badge. The boy noticed Andy's EMS jacket and his jaw dropped. Andy knelt next to the boy and they compared badges. In their brief conversation Andy explained he doesn't drive a police car but rather an ambulance. A little while later Andy saw the boy again, hat in hand instead of on his head.
"Mom," he said, "I'm not going to be a police officer. I'm going to be a paramedic!"
To Andy, it was a sacrifice of two minutes. To this little boy, it was the world.
Take the time to notice, talk to, or play with a child sometime soon. To you it's not a lot of time lost, to them it's an infinite amount of time gained.
<>< Katie
Monday, January 4, 2010
Book Review: Love Languages
I asked for the Five Love Languages for Christmas. Grandma thought it sounded dirty but didn't consult my mother before buying it. She figured the singles edition would be cleaner, so she made the executive decision that I needed The Five Love Languages: Singles Edition.
Ouch!
Upon further investigation, I realize I do fit the target audience.
Adult? Check
Single? Check
I could not help but laugh to myself because receiving the singles edition of a book is in stark contrast to the Christmas with the other side of the family the night before ("Katie, any cute guys at your school?"). The irony is that the stalking-family doesn't invite boyfriends/girlfriends to Christmas and the book-gifting side included four boyfriends in our midst. Mixed messages here, folks.
I put the "You're going to be single for the rest of your life" condemnation aside and read the book. Enjoyed it, too.
Gary Chapman analyzes five ways people feel loved:
1. Quality time
2. Gifts
3. Acts of service
4. Words of encouragement, affirmation
5. Physical touch
He argues every person enjoys all five but has one specific love language they need in order to truly feel loved. I struggled to figure out my own primary love languages but had no trouble discovering the love languages of those around me. It was actually really fun to think about the important people in my life and how I can best express my love and appreciation to them.
Even though I am not currently in a romantic relationship, I feel this book was worth my time. I'd recommend reading it (singles edition or normal edition) to anyone who interacts with people on a regular basis. Chapman is not humble when discussing how the concept of the five love languages has saved countless marriages. I don't know if this is true or not but I can see how it could be helpful between couples, struggling or not. I would love to someday read it again with my fiancé prior to our marriage because I think it's an area where we should be on the same page.
Oh, and in case you're wondering, the singles edition isn't actually cleaner but neither book is dirty. I've read things in class that are dirtier than this (BEFORE I took an entire semester of Beat Lit).
One book down for 2010, meaning 14 to go!
<>< Katie
Ouch!
Upon further investigation, I realize I do fit the target audience.
Adult? Check
Single? Check
I could not help but laugh to myself because receiving the singles edition of a book is in stark contrast to the Christmas with the other side of the family the night before ("Katie, any cute guys at your school?"). The irony is that the stalking-family doesn't invite boyfriends/girlfriends to Christmas and the book-gifting side included four boyfriends in our midst. Mixed messages here, folks.
I put the "You're going to be single for the rest of your life" condemnation aside and read the book. Enjoyed it, too.
Gary Chapman analyzes five ways people feel loved:
1. Quality time
2. Gifts
3. Acts of service
4. Words of encouragement, affirmation
5. Physical touch
He argues every person enjoys all five but has one specific love language they need in order to truly feel loved. I struggled to figure out my own primary love languages but had no trouble discovering the love languages of those around me. It was actually really fun to think about the important people in my life and how I can best express my love and appreciation to them.
Even though I am not currently in a romantic relationship, I feel this book was worth my time. I'd recommend reading it (singles edition or normal edition) to anyone who interacts with people on a regular basis. Chapman is not humble when discussing how the concept of the five love languages has saved countless marriages. I don't know if this is true or not but I can see how it could be helpful between couples, struggling or not. I would love to someday read it again with my fiancé prior to our marriage because I think it's an area where we should be on the same page.
Oh, and in case you're wondering, the singles edition isn't actually cleaner but neither book is dirty. I've read things in class that are dirtier than this (BEFORE I took an entire semester of Beat Lit).
One book down for 2010, meaning 14 to go!
<>< Katie
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