Best Holidays Ever

I told my wife multiple times over Christmas break that this most recent holiday was my favorite holiday break we have ever had.

It had nothing to do with the gifts we all unwrapped on Christmas day.

It also was not affected by the projectile vomiting from one child twice in the same evening. The first time at a restaurant; the second time in the van on the way home from that restaurant.

But it was my favorite holiday season we have spent together in a long time.

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I was given a gift this past summer when cancer was discovered in my body.

That gift was a wake-up call.

It was a wake-up call for multiple things, but this particular wake-up call went unanswered and unaddressed for months after my surgery.

I didn't answer the wake-up call until I was recording the audiobook.

You know, reading my own book! Hearing my own advice!

In the chapter about Family, I propose that Family is the area of life we wish to be the most important.

Here's why I say that:

Our family is who we work hard for each day, providing food, shelter and clothing.

Our family is who we dream of taking on a special vacation.

Our family is who we envision retiring with to spend more time together making memories.

Right?

We all wish Family is the most important area of our lives, even if they don't consume the most portion of our time.

Yet...I wasn't enjoying my family.

I was getting annoyed by my kids and I constantly felt like they were a frustration and hindrance to my goals, instead of experiencing joy when I interacted with them.

I first wrote those words this spring and early summer, yet I didn't confront my own words until this fall.

It was as if God spoke to me one day and asked me the question, "Are you going to enjoy this time with your family, or are you going to waste it and wish it away?"

I had to make a choice.

I could continue feeling miserable and frustrated and get angry when I didn't get my own way or follow my own plan for the day.

Or...

I could make a switch and enjoy being with them now.

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So I made the switch, and I experienced the best Christmas break ever.

We played lots of card games and board games.

We watched lots of movies.

We laughed a lot.

We talked a lot.

We spent lots of time together and enjoyed almost every single minute.

Here's my challenge to you:

Are you enjoying who you're with?

Do you need to make a mental switch to be intentional with your time with family?

It takes intention.

You have to do it on purpose.

It doesn't happen by accident for most of us.

Flip the switch.

Make your family the most important area of your life, and enjoy them!

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If you want to snag a copy of the book, you can order it from Amazon or here on my site.