Slowing Down And Enjoying the Fruits

 The Sunday Gospel for August 4th was:

Gospel: Lk 12:13–21
Someone in the crowd spoke to Jesus, “Master, tell my brother to share with me the family inheritance.” He replied, “My friend, who has appointed me as your judge or your attorney?” Then Jesus said to the people, “Be on your guard and avoid every kind of greed, for even though you have many possessions, it is not that which gives you life.”
And Jesus continued with this story, “There was a rich man and his land had produced a good harvest. He thought: ‘What shall I do? For I am short of room to store my harvest.’ So this is what he planned: ‘I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones to store all this grain, which is my wealth. Then I may say to myself: ‘My friend, you have a lot of good things put by for many years. Rest, eat, drink and enjoy yourself.’ But God said to him: ‘You fool! This very night your life will be taken from you; tell me who shall get all you have put aside?’ This is the lot of the one who stores up riches instead of amassing for God.”

After having one of the busiest weeks we've had all summer

(and we've had a lot of busy weeks)

our wonderful priest gave a timely homily following this Gospel.

(it was as if he was speaking only to us)

He talked about slowing down in our busy world

He talked about family and the importance of 

being together as a family as much as possible.

He explained that when he was younger, he was in swimming.

He was also in Boy Scouts and his parents made the decision 

when he was in 7th grade to have him drop swimming and 

focus on one thing, Boy Scouts, and earning his Eagle Scout Award.
At the time he was not happy with his parents.

He was later able to join swimming again in 9th grade.

He said it was a decision his family had to make for the 

better of the family.

 If we are running all the time,

where is the time for God?

How can we listen to Him?

Where is the time for family?

Where is the time to actually enjoy family?

Tom and I talked

and decided to clear everything that following week

(except a trip to Fargo to visit friends for the day)

The fruit of that was so noticeable to us

that we decided to really try hard to clear things more often.

We told the kids we were not going anywhere, 

having anyone over 

or planning anything.

Which meant they had to play with each other.

This was not taken happily, 

let's just say a couple girls had tears that lasted a day an a half. 

 Pressure off, was what it was like

For me and surprisingly, later,  for them.

We've cut down on activities a little

Band is out

American Heritage Girls out

We've cut down on playing with friends, 

They now have one day per week to plan something

 With a larger family,

life is busy enough just with the day to day "stuff"

They still have plenty to do

Soccer

Piano

Uni cycling

Homeschool Theatre (if it comes up)

(he finally looked at the camera and I was not ready!)

 We were calling and getting together with friends almost every day 

which is nice, but too much time away from each other.

 I've seen the kids come together 

and actually enjoy being together,

playing games

playing outside

talking

swimming together

 I am guilty of filling up the calendar 

and planning things, 

even for this beach day,

last minute I invited people via Facebook

(sandy veggie chips, anyone?)

 It turned out to be too last minute 

and we spent the day by ourselves

 which turned out to be a blessing

they played so nice together,

I can actually say there was no fighting!

So in the end, 

we can turn off the TV, the computers,

our phones 

and actually listen to God

and spend our time with what

He has blessed us with.