It’s About Time [management - Stewardship]

The phrase “walk circumspectly,” means to be constantly looking around to make the most of every opportunity. Emmett Smith was a great football running back, but he’s not the biggest or the fastest, or the strongest. What he excels at is running with his eyes open, and he is one of the best at seeing holes as they open and then running through them. That’s the way we should live, looking for every opportunity to invest time wisely, then darting through them. When an opportunity passes, it can’t be reclaimed–it is gone forever. That’s what it means to redeem the time.

2. If you don’t manage your time - someone else will manage it for you

You can’t save time, or even waste time–you are going to spend it somewhere and invest it in someone. If you don’t control your schedule, someone will always be happy to do it for you. Some people complain they just don’t have enough time to spend with their family. You’ve got exactly the same amount of time as everyone else; you just aren’t managing your time wisely or managing yourself wisely.

The most important time you will invest will be in your family. Many of you remember the song, “The Cat’s in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin. Part of it says,

“My child arrived just the other day.

He came to the world in the usual way.

But there were planes to catch and bills to pay.

He learned to walk while I was away.

He was talking before I knew it, and as he grew

He said, “I’m going to be like you, Dad.

You know I’m going to be like you.”

My son turned ten just the other day.

He said, “Thanks for the ball, now come on let’s play.

Can you teach me to throw?” I said, “Not today,

I’ve got a lot to do.” He said, “That’s OK.”

And he walked away and he smiled and he said

“You know I’m going to be like you, Dad,

You know I’m going to be like you.”

The final verse says:

I’ve long since retired and my son’s moved away.

I called him up just the other day.

I said, “I’d like to see you, if you don’t mind.”

He said, “I’d love to, Dad, if I could find the time.

You see, my new job’s a hassle and the kids have the flu,

But it’s sure nice talking to you, Dad.

It’s been real nice talking to you.”

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me,

He’d grown up just like me.

My boy was just like me.

Maybe you’ve heard the song, but here’s the rest of the story: Harry Chapin’s wife, Sandy, actually wrote the words to that song after their son Josh was born. It became a self-fulfilling prophecy. When their son was 7, Harry was performing 200 concerts a year, and Sandy asked him when he was going to take some time to be with his son. Harry promised to make some time at the end of the summer. He never made it. That summer, a truck hit Harry’s Volkswagen bug and he was killed.

The final letter in TIME is:

ENJOY

The time you spend with your family should be enjoyable. It should be the best time of your life. Here is a couple of ways to enjoy your family time.

1. Say NO to family time-robbers

There will always be something else to do. There will always be somewhere else you can be, but if you are going to make spending time with your family a priority you are going to have to learn the power of that little two letter word, “NO.”