Sweet Memories Made
It was a busy week-end with the girls home. We celebrated birthdays, went shopping for birthday presents, went shopping for shoes for Danielle’s wedding, did some work outside in our little old Christmas tree farm, and celebrated Easter. It was a wonderful week-end. The joys of making memories.
When the girls come home, I spend more time in the kitchen getting food ready. I asked them all what their favorite cookies were because I wanted to have each of their favorite kinds ready for them to eat. We went through quite a few cookies over the weekend.
The joy is having them home and the sadness is when they leave again. They will be home for the summer in a few weeks after we attend Danielle and her fiancé’s college graduation. Then will come the wedding. So many emotions.
I realize again and again how important intentionality is. Intentionality takes work and thought and planning. It takes investment on everyone’s part. My girls could have chosen to go somewhere else for Easter, but they chose to come home. I am so thankful for that.
After they leave and the house is empty and I am left with my memories, I am glad I made three different kinds of cookies., spent time in preparing meals for us to eat and enjoy together, and I stayed up and did pedicures with them rather than go to bed.
Intentionality each day
I certainly miss them while they are gone, but the purpose of intentionality is not just with my girls. It is needed with my husband. It is needed with so many others that I come in contact with every day. Intentionality is not just meant for certain individuals. Intentionality is meant for all.
I pray often that the Lord will help me to notice others that are in need. When I do notice those people, I now have more time to stop and help them. Intentionality. Jesus showed us so often how to be intentional.
Jesus was intentional
He stopped and talked to those who needed something. He went out of his way to minister to someone. The woman with the issue of blood touched His garment and stopped to talk with her. The woman at the well was not someone in his culture that he should have talked to, but He did.
Jesus did not just go to the synagogue on Saturday, He lived out His love for His Father and for others every day.
How often do we see our jobs as our places of ministry or do we just see them as jobs? What if we changed our thoughts and became intentional in our jobs with the people we work with? I have been doing this more and more and the rewards are not monetary or accolades from others, but rather a sense of knowing that my efforts are pleasing to my Lord.
The Rewards
Therein, lies the beauty of intentionality. The rewards are not rewards on this earth, but rewards in heaven. As we seek to notice the needs of others, as we seek to comfort those in need, as we seek to bring joy to others through baking their favorite cookie; the rewards are not meant to be something we see. They may be felt in our hearts. They may be seen in the happiness we were able to give to another. However, the best rewards may not ever be seen here on this earth, but they will be seen in eternity.
As we hear from our Savior, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23).
