A Blessing and Love Dare Day 14--Love Takes Delight

Before I begin my "Love Dare", I wanted to share with you something that Denise sent me today:
This is such a pretty blessing, and if you get the chance, stop over and visit Denise!! She is a very special lady who is also doing the "Love Dare", and she lives her life loving the Lord!!

I'm so glad that I've had the chance to meet her through the internet. She encourages and uplifts others, even through her own adversities. Way to go, Denise!!

Thank you so much for thinking of me this way!! I love butterflies--they always remind me of new life--the new life that Jesus has given us all!!

So now, I'll move on to the "Love Dare".

I've fallen behind a little, and I'm going to try to catch up!!

Love Takes Delight

Enjoy life with the children you love all the days of your fleeting life. Ecclesiastes 9:9

Today's Dare

Purposefully neglect an activity you would normally do so you can spend quality time with your children. Do something he or she would love to do or a project they'd really like to work on. Just be together.

Yes, I changed the verse just a little. It really says "wife", but since I'm doing this for my children, I changed the wording just a little to fit them.

So, here's how this went, in order of age:

My son: When I come home from work, I usually like to relax a little, just sit and be and collect my thoughts from the day. Then, comes the cooking of dinner, cleaning up, and then I move on to projects that I am continually working on. This is my relaxation time--mine and mine alone!! (SELFISH!!).

The days and evenings here have been beautiful lately--the trees changing colors, the air crisp and cool. When my son suggested we take a walk one evening, my first thoughts were: "Oh, I have so much to do!"

I'm so glad that I didn't say that to him and went on the walk instead. We just walked around our neighborhood, talking, looking at all the vibrant colors on the trees. Just an enjoyable time together. Neither one of us looked or cared about the time, what we had planned--we just were us being together, and it was wonderful!!

Daughter #1: This daughter is starting a new job this week, and she is pretty busy. But, last week we spent some time together--talking, shopping (and just so you know, I'm not a shopper--the mall is my least favorite place to be!). This, too, took time away from me--this focusing on her and what she wanted to do.

But, again, well worth it!! I've also made time to call her at least every other day when before we could go weeks without even calling to say "Hi, how are you doing?"

And surprise, surprise!!! Today, she called me instead of the other way around--just to say, "Hi, how are you doing?" and there was an "I love you" in there, too!

Daughter #2: Now, this was a little more difficult--spending time with her when she lives in Texas and I'm in Pennsylvania. We always talk to one another once a week, but usually there is no contact in between these weekly conversations.

She is a very busy young lady--attending school, working full-time, and besides--she is far away!! How am I going to give up something I want to do to spend time with her?

I'll tell you how--I wrote her a letter--knowing that she loves receiving unexpected things in the mail (don't we all love surprises in the mail!). I sent her pictures from our recent trip to Inner Harbor and Lexington Market.

And then, I sent her an e-mail which she promptly answered. I replied back to her, filling her in on my day, asking her about her day. Again, a quick reply from her!! So, I answered her promptly, and again another quick reply!! So, before I started anything else this evening, I sent her another e-mail--just telling her that I'm thinking of her, how much I love and miss her, news from people she knows at my work.

When I read this dare at first, I didn't know how to begin--what to do. It's not that I don't enjoy time with my children--I do!! But, they are adults, busy with their own lives. I think I almost felt like they wouldn't want to spend time with me--they would rather be with their friends--doing what they want to do.

I'm glad that I took the time to reach out a little, spend time with each one individually (even though not in person with the youngest).

I felt almost as I did when they were very young and we spent 24 hours a day together--just in these few hours, these few moments on the computer with the youngest. We are growing closer together instead of further apart.

And, so we move on to Day 15:

Love is Honorable

Live with your children in an understanding way......and show them honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life......1 Peter 3:7

And the Dare for This Day:

Choose a way to show honor and respect to your children that is above your normal routine. It may be holding the door for them. It might be putting their clothes away for them. It may be the way you listen and speak in your communication. Show your children that they are highly esteemed in your eyes.

Remember to stop over and visit Chelle' and you can read about all the participants in this dare, what they're doing and how they're progressing. The changes that I'm seeing are phenomenal!!

Beth