Becoming Relationship Rich

I've been thinking a lot about that this week. Being relationship rich. I heard the phrase this week during a parenting class we just started at our church. Called "Parental Guidance Required" it is a video series led by Andy Stanley from one of the larger churches here in Atlanta. His main premise this week is how we should be more relationship rich instead of experience rich. We discussed how it is the relationships you have in life that shape you and mold you, much more so than the experiences. Not that there is anything wrong with experiences, but if most of the time spent with our children is carting them from one activity to another, everyone engaging in their own "electronic" world and very little time is spent actually conversing and interacting with each other, that might not be such a great thing. And your child might very well look back on it and be relationship poor and not be able to relate as well as they could to others when they become adults.

I really have thought about that a lot this week (well, really just 2 days since the class was on Wednesday). But I think the topic just solidified something I've been mulling over in my mind and spirit the last several weeks. How do I put an emphasis on those relationships that are important to me and nurture them, grow them and sustain them? How do I make those people feel special to me and important to me? I have a wonderful immediate family whom I adore, but there are far too many times when we are all in our own rooms, on our own computers, watching our own TV shows and very little interaction is done with each other. Now, of course, there are times when everyone needs a little space to themselves, and I don't think there is anything wrong with that, but I think sometimes a little too much space (even when wanted) is not necessarily a good thing. I also thoroughly love and enjoy my relationships with my parents and sisters. But far too often email has replaced the phone call, which has replaced the lunches, breakfasts or coffees together. Or my friends (whom I am so fortunate to have) who I more often than not text or email, instead of actually making the time to get together and hang out.

I have tried the last couple of weeks to make a more concerted effort to spend time with people whom I treasure. In the summer it is easier of course. More time to be had. I do know that once school starts, it will take more of a thoughtful, deliberate effort to make time for all those that I count among my loved ones.

It's funny how when God starts speaking to my heart about these kinds of things, that He is gracious and loving enough to continue to knock me over the head with it, until it truly sinks in. I took the kids this afternoon to see "Wall-E". I had heard some good and some bad about it, but ended up going because the kids wanted to see it. To me the whole movie touched on this premise. Wall-E is this little robot all alone in a world that has forgotten him and what he longs for is a relationship, with someone to connect to, with someone to hold hands with. There is the 'cruise' ship with all the people (really fat, slovenly people) who only have time to 'talk' via 'internet' type conversations, everything is done 'virtually' (thus the slovenly behavior) and no one is actually connecting with anyone, no one is shaking a hand, looking in an eye, smiling, talking, relating. Until Wall-E shows up. And a few start opening their eyes and realizing what they are missing and start connecting. From there, friendships start. I don't want to give away too much, but I thought it was really good, and so nailed down the need for those important relationships.

So after mulling this all over the last week or so, I know there are some things I want to continue doing and some things I want to do differently.
1) Spend time with - truly interacting and relating to James, Caroline and Jack.
2) Continue to make family dinners and family fun nights a priority - but encourage more active conversation and interaction.
3) Make time for my parents and my sisters. Bring those relationships to the forefront more.
4) Continue to spend time with those friends that I am close with and whose company I enjoy. And when I am fortunate enough to meet someone new whom I connect with to help that relationship grow too.
5) Turn off the computer, TV, Wii, iPod, DVDs, radio and JUST talk, relate and enjoy each other.
6) Make a concerted effort to have people over more. Host activities that can bring people together where relationships can be cultivated AND experiences can be had. (the two aren't mutually exclusive!)
7) Reconnect with some old friends I haven't seen in a while. Facebook has been a lot of fun, but if I don't do something more than just post an occasional message on someone's wall, it hasn't really gotten me anywhere!

I'm sure there are more things, but this is what I am being convicted of at the moment. For all of you whom I count among those I am so very fond of, thank you for being my family and my friends. I love you all~