Some give of their time yet withhold themselves, being present without giving of their presence and going through the superficial motions of membership instead of the deep emotions of consecrated discipleship.

As tempting as it is to “just check e-mail for one minute,” I didn’t do it. I know from experience that any problem found in the inbox will linger on the brain for hours or days after you shut-down the computer, rendering “free time” useless with preoccupation. It’s the worst of states, where you experience neither relaxation nor productivity. Be focused on work or focused on something else, never in-between.

Time without attention is worthless, so value attention over time.

'Tis wealth enough of joy for me
In summertime to simply be

The moments of happiness
we enjoy take us by surprise.
It is not that we seize them,
but that they seize us.

Parents should be especially cautions, however, about adding unintentionally to the daily commotion which swirls about them and their children. Our homes should be sanctuaries of peace and love. If we add to daily hecticness unnecessarily by overmuch involvement in outside activities, we can lose the special benefits of home. Parents are much more apt to be appreciated by their children as parents than as taxi drivers.