The Gift of Time

by Renee Scott 

It’s hard to sum up this semester in just a few words of a blog post.  I’ve learned life changing lessons that will remain a part of the fabric of my existence.  God decided to carve out some time in my life to hang out together.  He would give me eight weeks to snuggle and love on Him.  Let’s just call our time together, “forced relaxation.”  I would have loved for our time together to have come from an experience at a Christ centered retreat or Him loving on me  during a visit to the mountains, instead, it was by way of surgery recovery. 

That’s how I started the semester.

Life as I knew it was placed on pause while I spent eight weeks recovering and resting.  I focused on my healing in a way that was different from recoveries of the past.  Even though I knew this time in my life was orchestrated by God, my failure to take better care of myself, caused the need for major surgery. 

Going and doing.  Doing and going.

It was the story of my life and it was time to write another story.  The recovery period allowed me to spend more time with my kids and husband.  I could actually focus on my thoughts.  Write in my journal.  Study God’s word.  Read books and take notes.  I even found time to organize hundreds of photos. 

I quickly realized that time moves swiftly. 

It doesn’t stop or slow down for anyone.  God gives us time as a gift and we must make the most of it.  We were created to be in relationship with Him and it can only come by spending time with Him.  Our wilderness experiences provide opportunities to draw close to Him.  Prayer, fasting, and studying the Bible help strengthen our relationship with Him.  Read the passage below from Hosea 2:14-15 (MSG):

^14-15 “And now, here’s what I’m going to do:
    I’m going to start all over again.
I’m taking her back out into the wilderness
    where we had our first date, and I’ll court her.
I’ll give her bouquets of roses.
    I’ll turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope.
She’ll respond like she did as a young girl,
    those days when she was fresh out of Egypt”

I learned an invaluable lesson in the eight weeks of my surgery recovery. Let’s grow from each other’s teachings, and please share with us some lessons you’ve learned during a time of “forced relaxation”.  

* (Picture above: two weeks after surgery!) 

Renee Scott is co-founder of the popular blog, http://doubleportioninspiration.blogspot.com, where she shares encouragement and inspiration to men and women all over the world.  She’s been a member of Grace Family Church for four years. She loves to run and recently completed her first half marathon. She is a wife of over 14 years and mother of two children.