What are you missing?
Tonight as I held onto my daughter as she fell asleep, I told her, “I miss you so bad.” And I meant it.
I have been around her. Eaten at the same table as her. Slept in the same house, and a couple nights even the same room as her. But I still missed her.
It’s entirely possible to live life around people and never be truly with them.
The beginning of the end
I think that is the beginning of a divorce, the end to a business partnership and the color of friendship beginning to fade into obscurity.
In a busy world we take someone ‘for granted’ because they are near and don’t realize that proximity doesn’t equal relationship.
Knowing that you are with someone and realizing that you haven’t spent quality time with them is a key indicator that it’s time to change it up. Focus in.
Make people a priority
That’s what Ashtyn and I did tonight. We snuggled up, shut the world out, and watched the movie she chose. At the end – it wasn’t enough.
So you know what? No matter what tomorrow brings, I’m going to make it a priority to be with, enjoy, and make my daughter important.
I couldn’t think of a more worthy time investment.
I can’t be alone in this…
Surely you can weigh in on this. Have you ever been surround by family or friends and felt alone?
Or, has someone you thought you had been spending ‘time’ with ever come to you and talked about not feeling invested in?
What did you do to change it?
5 comments
You just described my situation with my 9 yr old son. I have allowed purchasing our first home to consume me my thoughts. I know I am not present mentally when we are together. Thank you for sharing this today!!
Despite an outgoing personality, I often feel alone around people. It is possible to be in a crowd and feel alone. We have a habit of being around but not engaging people directly or on a personal level. It’s a quick Hi, Bye or How are you without intent to take time to truly find out how they are… And let’s say I do that… How many turn around and really want to know how I am? We tend to think that those who are encouragers or seem to “have it together” don’t need encouragement themselves. This all relates to family, friends, church, coworkers. If we don’t go out of our way to spend focused time with people…beyond just being a part of a project at church or work or a family meal every once in awhile, we aren’t having meaningful relationships, we’re just existing around other people. I agree Pastor Nicole… It is possible to be “around” people and miss them. Thanks for this post!
On a side note… that’s a FABULOUS photo of you and Ashtyn and your outfits are FANTASTIC!!!! 🙂 Great colors on you and very flattering!
The first thing that I do every morning when I wake up is I give my mom a hug and kiss and Tell her that I miss her even though she right down the hall from my room. I miss my mom even when I am at college. I just can’t wait to get home and tell her how much I’ve missed her and love her. I miss my mom everyday when I am out and about but I know when I come home she will be waiting for me. Everywhere I go I carry a note that says “I love you Cheryl love mom.” My mom always misses me wherever I go but I am never far from her.
Obviously, I am missing reading past e-mails……
Most of all I miss my best friend and husband. He died August 22, 2002 in room 222 at Missouri Baptist Hospital. Most of the time it feels like yesterday and sometimes the ache I feel is still unbearable. It was a second marriage for both of us and we had a total of 7 wonderful years. What do I miss? I miss how perfect it was and regret that I went to the mall to buy something I’m sure I didn’t need and could have spent a few more precious hours just being near him. You see, he died unexpectedly of lung cancer within just a few weeks of diagnosis which none of us was prepared for. He was a non-smoker, in great shape, and even played Rugby for The St. Louis Bombers in his younger days. So, I would have to say I miss all the wasted time I spent on things that I “thought” was important. Once you have had perfect it’s hard to replace or forget. The great news is I know in Whom I believe in and because of Him I will see my husband again.