The perpetual nature of Sunday to Sunday can easily get us caught up in the momentum of to doing and distractions… which sometimes means we might tend to give the best of ourselves away to those we serve or work for… and bring our leftovers home to those we love most. Prioritising quality time for Jesus, for your spouse or for your family means getting creative and being intentional.
Dates with Jesus
We operate our best from an overflow tapped into intentional and quality time with our Lord. Not just when we are freaking out about something, or we need to get a service sorted, or a devotional worked on or summoning up an encouragement from the Word. We need to be actively engaged in time with Jesus – if we’re not careful we will forget to calve out time for connection, reflection and devotion. So babe, grab your diary and mark out 1-3 times throughout your week where you will be intentional in your relationship with the Lord. For me it’s 3 mornings a week I have Jesus (with a coffee emoji) locked into my calendar. That way, I am reminded when I am booking in clients and making pastoral meetings I prioritise the limited hours I am given in a day to work with! The first hour of those 3 days are spent in a cafe or in nature – no device, no distractions, and are designed for me to connect in real time. on top of that I have alarms in my phone to read the Bible when I wake up or pop the kids in the bath on my days off.
Dates with Yourself
Yes, that’s right! I’m not being weird. This is something I have fostered over the past few years and I have come to realise when I have neglected myself its easy to begin neglecting others… so sweet one making room for your own personal growth. Allow decompression time among the responsibilities of life. What fills you up? What restores you? I’m an introvert so time to myself fills me with energy and I am a much nicer person to be around than the frazzled lady who is doing to much and gives too little in the moment! Time to myself looks different a lot of the time; it might be a nice bath, napping, journaling, pedicure, going for a walk, reading a fluffy novel, sewing, colouring in, sudoku…Find what gives you joy and go there. Often.
Dates with Your Spouse
Having date night with your spouse regularly was the best advice we were given when we were first married. We’ve tried hard to guard our times together, and different seasons have meant the pendulum of fewer and far between to a weekly rhythm. A regular date night or time with your spouse means you are again on the same page. Find things you like to do together. Try it device free and avoid conversations revolving only around work/ministry or the kids – find your way back to our common ground and getting to know each other. I’ve been with my Hub for over 18 years – and I’m here to tell you, there are always new things to discover about your partner. Grab your diary and create space for time together. Your marriage will thank you for it!
Dates with Your FamBam
This will look different to each family as a whole and to the individual as well. Depending on your love language you might find your family thrives on periodic mini vacays. Or you might find 1:1 date time more helpful or a mixture! We intentionally make room for time together after big events and big months: sometimes it looks like setting aside a day – we call it Adventure Day where the boys get to decide where/what/how we do the day. Sometimes it’s staying at home and creating fun, home movie nights, playing a board game or getting outdoors like going to the library, the mountains, fly a kite, go to a new park or a bush walk. Whatever it is we are theirs all day with our devices away. For us we plan out a draft of the year and block out a week after forseen big months for family day trips, 1:1 getaways or a family holiday. Chat together about what will work for your tribe and stay committed to it. Teach your crew they come first and you’re willing to set aside time and heart for them.
At the end of the day it’s all about relationship and sowing well. Finding what works for you and your tribe and making an intentional effort to steward our Yes well and giving permission to say no where needed to others.
until next time… xox