on time and loving well

All we have to decide 

is what to do with the time 

that is given to us.

-Gandalf

Something that I have been given a lot of lately, that I have never really felt like I had much of before, is time.  I am currently looking for work outside the home, and haven't found the right thing for me and my family yet.  So while the kids are at school, I have been able to choose what I do (for the most part).  Now of course there are all the daily/weekly chores like laundry, vacuuming, and dishes that take up part of this time, but the rest?  What have I been up to?

For one thing, I have started a new business.  Its called grace&canvas, and you can find it on facebook , instagram and my shop site.   I have been working on the social media side of  things like promoting and building followers, and I have been praying a LOT about what He wants me to do with my business, and what my vision and core values are.

Another thing that I have been choosing to do with my time is loving others.  It may sound simple, but there are so many different relationships that we have and each one needs something different.  You don't love your husband the way you love your children, and you have a different relationship with your best friend than your neighbor.  How do you do this well, when there are so many different things vying for your time and attention?

For one thing, I have started to say yes to things that I used to have to say no to.  I have more availability to help watch my friend's child, or to meet up for coffee, or to help my mom by letting her dogs out while she is at work all day.  I think of it as doing for others what I needed others to do for me when I was working.

Another area that I am working on improving in my quest to love well is acting on something rather than adding it to the to-do list.  For example, I might have said "Oh, I really need to text so and so, and see how she is doing.  Maybe meet her for coffee sometime.." and then I would forget about it for two or three days and say the same thing all over again.  Now, I just pick up that phone and send that text.  Right now.  And say "Will one day next week work for you to get coffee?? I am free any day but Wednesday."  And then it is not something that I keep putting off or forgetting about.  It is done.

I have been trying to be more intentional about how I view my relationships.  I am trying to look for ways to encourage others, or to seek them out more than I did before.  For example, I might make some apple crisp to bring over to my neighbors, rather than just saying hi to them when we cross paths.  If I see my phone sitting on the desk in between trips to the laundry room,  I might pick it up and send an "I love you" text to my husband before I dive into folding the next basket.  Just these small but intentional gestures not only help others to feel loved, but also help me to keep my heart and mind focused on how to love well.

Whether you work outside the home or stay home, we can all learn to love others well.  Maybe you can't offer to watch your friend's child while she has an appointment to get her wisdom teeth out, because you have to work that day, but you can send her a text on your lunch break to say that you are thinking of her and hope that she isn't in too much pain as she recovers.  Maybe you can't meet up for coffee with your friends as much as you would like, because you are home with three kids under three.  Maybe you write her a card once the kids have gone to sleep to tell her how much you appreciate her friendship, and pop it in the mail.  I think hand-written notes are a great way to love others well - especially these days.

I am not sure what things will look like for me a month, two months, six months from now as far as the amount of free time I have, but I am trying to make the most of THIS time and THIS season to learn how I can love others well, and how I can encourage others that may not be in a great season themselves.