How Do YOU Spell Love?

How do you spell love? In my studies of parenting, I learned that many children spell love t-i-m-e. What makes children, especially but not exclusively young ones, feel most loved is being in their parent’s presence. Yes, kids “love” toys and food! But what makes them feel secure, protected, and valued is having their parents' time and attention.

As part of our current worship series at Tyner UMC, I am preaching on “The Power of Presence” this coming Sunday. One of the vows members of the Methodist Church make is to faithfully participate in the ministries of the church by their presence. It is hard to be a vital part of a church if you are never there! It is hard to share our love of God and each other if we are never present.

It is said if you show me how you spend your money, I can tell you what is important to you. It is at least as true that if you show me how you spend your time, I can tell you the things you love.

I tend to be less selfish with my money than with my time. While we all need time to ourselves, and we all have time commitments we may feel obligated to, I am convinced we find time for the things we really want to do. I spent over an hour in the snow playing disc golf today! Do you think I might love disc golf? I know people who are overwhelmed by how busy their lives are, and yet they find time to binge watch TV or scroll on their phones.

Here I am with one of my current loves.  (Click to watch if you want!)

Most of us have time for what is most important in life. So, for disciples that raises a question. What might how I spend my time show me about what I truly love? How much of my time does God get? Am I making time to let the people who are important to me know they are loved?
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If we run out of money, we have the chance to make more. But when we waste time, we can’t get it back. Let’s spend our time wisely. Let’s spend time sharing and enjoying our love with God and others.