Mr. John is a man highly respected where he works. He does his work perfect. He is known of coming to work early and leaving work late.
If he starts to do something, he must finish it whether it means working for extra more hours. His supervisor loves him very much. Every other person in the work place loves him too. He is loved by everyone because he can even do the unfinished work of others. Mr. John knows only work and nothing more than it.
Mr. John’s wife has this complaint. Mr. John comes home when the wife has slept and leaves for work when the wife is still sleeping. His wife has reported to the chief that she would like to divorce him. She presented that she was not married to stay home without a man. She misses the presence of the man in the house. It is true Mr. John provides everything his wife needs, but he does not have time for his wife. His presence is not felt in the house though his money is felt the most. His wife has decreed that she needs nothing more than Mr. John’s valuable time for her otherwise she means to divorce him.
Mr. John has just realized that his children don’t even ask him. When they go to church, the children sit near their mother. If the children need anything, they only ask their mother. For so many times, the children have been asking their mother where their dad could have gone to. Some of his children have grown big but there is no connection between them and their father. Mr. John only knows his work than his children.
Mr. John does not attend family and community meetings. When he is called, he says he is busy. The community leaders have warned him of the danger of his isolation. Despite such warnings, he ignored the community leaders. He has no time for the community. He has time only for his work. His family and community have forgotten about him. He was left to have his work as his family and community.
Call Mr. John, he will he is busy. He does not accept calls anyhow. Even his wife, he says, he is busy. Unless it is his boss calling him that he will not say he is busy. The word busy has dominated his vocabulary. Everyone has given up on calling him.
Mr. John works for seven days a week. He works from Monday to Sunday. He has no time for church. The only time he goes to church is when it is Christmas or New Year. He cares less about his spiritual life. He claims that he has his Bible and reads at home. Since he knows the Bible, why should it matter that he goes to church? What he does is sending his offerings, tithes and donations to the church. When he is asked, he says, “He is busy.”
Mr. John has a problem with his health. He does not have time for physical exercise. He does not have time for rest. His work has taken up everything. He sleeps less. Even when he is on bed, he keeps thinking about his job. At night, he writes projects. Mr. John keeps becoming sick from time to time. If he sees a doctor, the only sickness found is a lack of physical and mental rest.
What is your take-home lesson?
We need to give time to our families. Your family is more important than your work. Take for example your wife, your presence as a man is more important to her than your money. A woman can be happy having time with her husband even without food in the house. Women work with what is close to them. It is recorded that many women who go for other men go for them when their husbands have travelled somewhere or staying with the other wives or wives. It is hard for a woman to leave you when you are with her. Your presence matters to her.
What about your children? Don’t you know your children need your time more than the support you give them? Many men don’t know this. They think they can just take their children to boarding school and that is enough for their children to love them. This is wrong! Your children need your valuable time. If they are in school, leave your work and check on them while in school. They will conclude you love their education. They will be happy to show their friends their father. When they come home, check what they do in school. They will do well in school. They will always pass their class activities because they will not be happy to disappoint you.
Why not play with your children? When you come home, at least create some games with them. Come to their level. Have conversations with them. Allow them to ask you questions. Tell them stories! Children like stories especially from their parents. Don’t make your children fear you. Many parents think that their children will respect them because they are rude and arrogant. They think shouting at them is making them obey their instructions. They forget that it is friendship that transforms.
Having more time with children will make you understand them. It is important to understand your children as it is important for them to understand you. Understanding brings trust. Your children will trust you if they know you understand them. They will reference you in everything. They will always tell you how they feel. You will be the first person to know their problems.
Creating such freedom for your children to approach you for anything is what every responsible parent must do. Children have more stories to share but when their parents don’t have time for them, they will end up telling other people. Time with your children matters a lot. Don’t rob your children of it.
Have time for your community meetings. We cannot be complete without the community. It happened one time when I became a Christian. I thought becoming a believer meant denying your people. I have recently learned that community matters for everyone. It is sad that work has robbed our time of community. We benefit a lot from the community. We are social beings. It is living with others that shows we are human beings. There are no isolated human beings. I tried isolating myself from people but I learned it is impossible! Though I own the money of the whole world, I still need people. Plan your time for your people. It matters a lot.
Choose between working throughout and die early and planning your time for rest and living long. Lack of rest has become a global sickness. Many people die because of no rest. I had gone through many times of stress because I could work without giving myself time to rest. At least these days when I can have enough rest that I am not stressed anymore. Having enough rest will improve your health. You will think positively. It will improve your emotional health and your physical health. Sleep enough. You will perform better in your job if you do so. It is good to work but plan your rest.
What about picking up calls? Some calls can be beneficial to you. Some can bring you good news. Some people call to seek advice from you. Some call to advise you. It is true some may call to seek for your help. It is bad to assume that everyone calls to ask your financial help. Those who ask for money from you have the right to ask you. But you also have the right to tell them that you will not give them money. They will trust you if you are honest with them. You cannot be blamed if you don’t pick up calls when you are at work. Some people must know when to call too. For those who call, it is good for them to call either in the morning or in the evening. Some people can just call even when they know it is not the right time a married man should not be called. Calling a married man at 11 pm is not advisable. Pick people’s calls, but those who call should know the right time to call.
It is precious to have time for God! Everyone believes there is a Creator though they don’t understand Him the same way. Have time for the God you understand. You will have respect for humanity if you know there is a Creator. You will humble yourself if you know there is someone superior to you. You will develop some values that may help you in one way or the other in life. Have time for God.
The term “Busy” has become so monotonous to many hearers. You can’t spend a day without hearing from someone that “I am busy.” Is it true that we are busy? Why should we be busy from time to time? Plan your things to avoid saying “I AM BUSY.” Be kind to yourself.