I
remember when I first was first promoted to management I had an area manager
that emphasized the importance of using a planner. He sent all of his new first-line managers to Franklin Covey planning seminars.
When I went to my session, I had an instructor who told us of the personal
significance of planning to her. She had an aunt whom she wanted to make sure that
she talked too regularly. So every week in her planner, on Sunday, she assigned
A1 task level to her calling her aunt. (A, B, C… level of importance and 1, 2,
3… ranking order) By using her planner, she faithfully called her aunt weekly.
When her aunt passed away she had no regrets.
Because she showed her love, and now she had vivid memories of their
conversations. Often times with this remembrance I made sure to plan for
interaction with those vital to me.
Let
move forward to another situation of relationship importance. Over the years,
I’ve tried to in many of my relationships to commit to communicating through
visits, conversations, small tokens of celebrations, cards, honoring life
events and holidays. On this journey one relationship, the honor and commitment
of relationship were centered. One of my conversations with this person I was
told that “Well, I have kids now, and I’m so busy.” With this comment my
response was, “No one knows better than I about the busyness of raising a
family, especially since I did it as a single parent. Even so, we take time for
those things that are important to us. Therefore, you have told me that I’m not
important.” This never really made an impression into the inner being of this
person because the last couple of times I spoke with this person was when my
mother passed away and when they needed bail money.
Our
earthly relationships are a choice, and this is true with our spiritual
connections. We make a choice to pray, read the Word, invite and invoke the
Holy Spirit (My pastor always emphasizes that Holy Spirit is a gentleman and
will only come when He is welcomed), and give blessings to His people. Yes, it takes time and work to have a
relationship with God. However, our Lord gave us freewill to CHOOSE a relationship
with Him. Does it mean that you have to use the Franklin Covey method of a task
list to accomplish the significance to this relationship? For some it might. Nevertheless,
whatever you do to achieve this relationship commitment determines its value to
you. You determine its significance of these relationships through your
commitment; be it earthly or heavenly.
What
is the value of relationships into your life? If they are of meaning to you
must make an earnest effort to repair and rebuild them. As I have stated before, busyness with the
business of life, you may have let your relationships become non-existent. With
this you have told me, your friend, God… I’m not important to you. He chose
you, did you choose Him? “For you are a
holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be people
of His possession out of all the peoples of the earth.” Deuteronomy 7:6 NASB
1 comment:
I totally agree with the thought that when people make comments like "I don't even have time for myself" or "I have kids now"that they are in so many words letting you know you are not important to them. But if an emergency occurs for example death, need money, etc. They will be in your face. I am guilty of making excuses for people. Oh she is in school, and a single parent. And a friend told me, "Sherron people will find the time, money, and energy to do the things they REALLY WANT to do. And she is right. Sometimes you really have to accept people for who they are. Because you cannot make them do anything and you should not have to. Just to coninue to love them anyway and Love and appreciate the people who take the time to make time.
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