There is a strange habit many of us develop without realizing it.
We give our best energy to things that matter less.
We are patient with the colleague who frustrates us, polite to the stranger at the grocery store, and attentive during meetings. Then we come home tired and distracted to the people we say matter most.
I understand how easily this happens. Life is full of responsibilities, and some seasons require more from us than others.
But after decades of caring for people near the end of life, I have noticed that relationships have a remarkable way of moving back to the center.
People think about the spouse they shared a life with. They think about their children, grandchildren, siblings, and friends. They remember conversations and ordinary moments together.
That perspective makes me ask myself a question that may be worth asking yourself too: Are the people who matter most getting the best of me, or simply what is left of me?
Jesus was never too hurried to notice people. He stopped. He listened. He ate with people. He allowed interruptions to become opportunities for connection.
I think there is something for us to learn in that.
Living intentionally does not always require a dramatic change. Sometimes it means putting the phone down when someone you love is talking. It means making the call instead of thinking about making it. It means choosing presence when distraction would be easier.
You do not have to wait until the end of life to recognize who matters most.
You already know.
Perhaps today is simply an opportunity to live like it.
If you want more encouragement for living with greater purpose and eternal perspective, explore Hope for Every Season at drpamela.com.
