As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.

Colossians 2:6 NASB

Cindi began this chapter talking about her aunt and uncle.  They have been married for an impressive 53 years!  While things haven’t always been calm for this couple, they have slowed down as they have gotten older and now have the opportunity to literally walk together in their seventies.

In this day and age, families are always on the run.  I know a few years ago I was almost burnt out by the running around that we were doing!   I felt as if I hit the ground running when my eyes would open in the morning.  From rushing to get the children dressed and off to school, followed by rushing to the office where I worked a full day, to then rushing to get my girls from school just to rush to dance practice, followed by finally being able to rush home, help with homework, bath time, and then getting in the bed to do it all over again the next day.  Whew!  I was worn out!  At the time, though, it was my normal routine.  I knew it was wearing on me, but I just did not realize how much at the time.  If we weren’t rushing to dance practice, we were rushing to a church activity as we were involved in SO much with the church, too!  My husband was a Deacon and also a part of the Buildings & Grounds Committee.  I was a member of the choir and Director of an interpretive movement and sign art group at the church.   One would think that with a crazy week like what we had that we would be able to rest on the weekend.  That just wasn’t to be, though, as we had to get things done around the house on Saturday on days that we were not committed to dance rehearsals for an upcoming play or event at church, and while Sunday should have been a day of rest, it was slam packed from the time we got up in the morning.  We would attend Sunday School, the church service, break for lunch, then hurry back for interpretive movement practice, then stay for the church service.  After the evening service we would rush home to make sure all of the homework was done, book bags were packed for the next morning, and get the children baths.  Then we would fall into bed from exhaustion!

Walking together?  Literally?  Back then, who had time!?

But, that is just the point that Cindi and Hugh make in their book and the point that I’m getting at here with this post.  It may not be possible at certain points in our lives to take walks together due to our busy schedules, but if you’re too busy to spend quality time with the ones that you love … then you’re TOO BUSY!  

It took a while before we finally realized that we needed to let go of some of the things that we were doing.  Once we did, though, we felt less stressed out and had more time to devote to our children and our marriage.

You truly do have to be intentional and make time to be together, even if it is just a quick walk in your neighborhood or at a local park.  Nothing compares to walking hand in hand with the one you love.  No conversation is needed.  Just the two of you walking together truly is enough!   Nothing beats taking time away with the one you love and strolling together on an uncrowded beach just breathing in the salt air and listening to the seagulls or the sound of the waves crashing in.  There is peace to be found the minute you step foot on a beach … any beach!

Make time for the ones you love.  Take those walks together while you still can.  You will find pleasure in simply being together in each other’s presence.  AND … what greater gift could you give to your children than to allow them to see you and your spouse being intentional about spending time together and being loving toward each other.  You wouldn’t want your children to look back and think of all the time you spent apart.  Instead, give them something to look back on fondly as they recall their mommy and daddy walking hand in hand, looking lovingly into each other’s eyes!

At the end of every chapter is a prayer that Cindi & Hugh offer.  In today’s prayer, they talked about how a three corded strand is not quickly broken.  See Ecclesiastes 4:12 for the entire verse that they referenced, but stop to think about that for just a second.  Have you allowed God to be one of those strands?  There should not just be two people walking together in your marriage.  There should be three:  God, you, and your spouse.  If you are not yet walking with God in your marriage, please invite Him in!

Stay tuned tomorrow for … Checking The Baggage.

For all previous days in this series, click here!

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