Full Calendar or Fruitful Family? Trading Hurry for Presence
Ask almost anyone how they’re doing, and you’ll probably hear the same answer: “Busy.” We say it almost proudly, as if a packed schedule shows we’re doing something right. Our culture applauds busyness and quietly suggests that an empty spot on the calendar means we’re falling behind, or worse, being lazy. So we fill every opening. Practices, lessons, events, and work commitments aren’t bad things, but somewhere along the way, activity can replace presence. We say our families come first, but our calendars often say otherwise.
Jesus carried the most urgent message the world has ever heard, yet He was never frantic. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35, NIV). He did it before major decisions, after busy days of ministry, and even before the cross. “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16, NIV). Not occasionally. Often. If the Son of God made time to be alone with the Father, how much more do we need it? Culture says, “I do, therefore I matter.” The gospel says, “I am loved, therefore I can rest.” When we believe that for ourselves, we model it for our kids. When we don’t, they learn that God loves them more when they’re productive than when they’re still.
Making margin doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with five quiet minutes with the Lord before you open your Bible or your phone. Lie in the grass and look at the stars together, grab ice cream with no agenda, or take a Saturday morning hike. Give your kids unscheduled time to explore, build, create, and wonder, and see what they find. It may feel awkward at first, and that’s OK. Hurry always wins when rest isn’t planned, so put it on the calendar. When the noise quiets down, relationships grow deeper, and God’s voice becomes a lot easier to hear.
Share this podcast with someone who is running from one thing to the next, feels guilty when the calendar has an empty spot, or wants their kids to have room to wonder and grow.