Nurture Relationships

How easy it is for us to often take those closest to us for granted. To think that they will always be there tomorrow or the next day or the next week? I have had the unfortunate opportunity to attend a few funerals in the last week. Not something that one regularly strives to do. All the beautiful things said about that person once they are gone, you hope are said while that person was alive, that the person truly knew how others felt and it just wasn't assumed. When these deaths are so close in our thoughts it helps us hone back to how important our family, friends and relationships truly are! Everyone says to call those you love, hug a little tighter, take time to spend with those around you that are most important. Don't leave things unsaid, don't forget to thank others and tell them how you truly care about them. After the sting of death wears off a little, it is so easy to fall back into our everyday hustle and bustle of pushing things off with our compliments to others so that other things can get done. Working, making money, projects, deadlines and all that comes with life and responsibilities. And although we might tend to not nurture our relationships all the time like we should... we must strive to do this. Whether is is just being kind and nice to those around us, doing some little thing to practice an act of kindness. A short email to someone who doesn't live close, a text to just say " I am thinking about you." A note in a lunch box, 15-30 minutes where we turn off our phone and pay attention no distractions. Taking time at night to eat dinner together, pray together, practice the habit of going around the table and picking 1 thing you are each grateful for that day! Life is a blessing, our family, friends and animals are a blessing. There are so many things to be thankful for that 1 thing should be easy to share with those you love... Sometimes we do 3-5 each! Practicing thankfulness for the things you have causes a ripple affect of more things you can be thankful for. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing."