Your time is your most valuable investment.

Isn’t it funny how we say that some days are longer when, in fact, they’re all technically the same length?  I swear, Tuesday just seemed like it was about 36 hours long.  On the drive home, which mind you was only 4:30, I could barely keep my eyes open.
 
The last thing that I wanted to do was walk around in the dark while my son (the youngest of the “older three”) went trick or treating.  I was tired.  It was cold.  I felt like I deserved the evening off.  I wanted to be home for the start of the World Series game.  The excuses continue, and they only get more lame and lazy. 
 
Then it hit me like a dump truck.  It’s only a matter of time before all of my boys are grown and out of the house.  As they get older, it becomes more difficult to find one-on-one times with each of them.  Immediately, my thinking changed about trick or treating last night.  That time walking around in the cold and dark instantly transformed into a special two-hour experience that I got to share with one of my boys.  He got all of my attention, and I got all of his.  Those times are precious.
 
Older parents are constantly warning younger parents not to blink, because the time goes by quickly.  There’s a consistent refrain of “You’ll miss ______________________ when it’s over.”  Whether that blank is filled with changing diapers, Little League games, learning the recorder, or tearful talks with a teenager; I’m pretty sure we won’t look back and wish we had more time sitting alone, on our butts. 
 
Just an encouragement to invest in those around you today.  Remember, that we’re not guaranteed another hour…