Relational Currency...

Though I am far from an expert on relationships (I suppose I learn most through my failed ones!) I have pondered much on what makes them go, and makes them grow. I've come to realize there are a number of ways we "pay" to keep our relationships healthy. For example, keeping the romance alive, or giving gifts, doing things, listening- many big and little things to keep it healthy. But underlying all these things is one key thing that is the glue, the main currency in our relational economy. And what is that one thing? Time- or more specifically, Our Time.

While the total amount of time each of us have on this rock differs, each day here we find ourselves with the same number of hours at our disposal. Some of us cram as much "doing" in our hours as we can, often ending our day slumped on the couch catching the news or a show before retiring to bed, just to repeat the cycle tomorrow. As a matter of fact, our society pushes us to do more and more- but at what cost to our relationships?

Time is the greatest measure of our commitment. Not just time, but quality time. Time we make specifically for another, despite our hectic schedules. It doesn't matter, in the long run, what gifts we give, what words we say, what acts we do, if we just aren't "there" for another. Our time is our most precious commodity, and how we share it with another shows the importance of that relationship. And you better believe, it doesn't matter to another how busy we are if we're in a relationship. What matters (to them) is our making time for them despite our schedule. For time, our time, is our currency, and how we spend it shows others just what is important to us...

Food for thought...