Many years had passed since Clayton and Amissa, the little clay people, had chose to venture into the Land of the Cliffs. Their lives were more difficult now as they wandered around the cliffs, but they always remembered who they could go to in times of trouble. The Potter still cared for his creations and was very pleased when they would choose to come back to him to be refined. However, it seemed that as the years passed the Claytons, who were the offspring of Clayton and Amissia would wander further away into the wilderness.

The wilderness began at the bottom of the cliffs. Some of the valleys were so low that when looking up one could just barely see the tops of the cliffs. The wilderness was a wasteland and practically barren of any good thing. But, many of the Claytons believed that it was safer to live there. They believed that if they didn’t live in the Land of Clayton, then they wouldn’t be at risk for falling over a cliff and becoming broken. Many of them did not remember what the potter had told Clayton and Amissa about the fate of their offspring.

The Potter had informed that all the Claytons would be broken due to the original fall and disobedience of Clayton and Amissa. Many of the Claytons had become adapted to their original brokenness and believed they didn’t need to be refined, unless they were to fall over a cliff and that is why they continued to live for years to wander in the wilderness.

In one of the valleys was a pool of water were one of the Claytons had been pulled out of when he was a baby. His name was Marden, which refers to the valley with the pool. Marden grew up thinking he was different than the rest of the Claytons. Marden had a yearning to get out of the wilderness and to go back to the top of the cliffs. One day he sat out on a journey to the top of a cliff. All of the Claytons told Marden that he was crazy to attempt something like that. They told him the higher he got the more likely for him to fall and be broken.

Each step that Marden cautiously took he could remember the stories of the Potter that many of the Claytons had seemed to forget about. Marden thought that it was ironic that the higher he climbed and looked down upon the Claytons the more he could see their brokenness. After a long and exhausting climb Marden finally made it to the top of one of the cliffs and was frightened at what he saw.

He seen what looked to be a Refiner’s fire, but it appeared out of nowhere. Marden then heard the voice of the Potter. The Potter told Marden that he was the one who had created their ancestors, Clayton and Amissa, and that he had seen the misery of the Claytons in the wilderness. The Potter explained how the Claytons were never intended to live in the wilderness. After the fall of Clayton and Amissa the Potter had given them the land of the cliffs to be their homeland.

The Potter had instruction on how to live in the land of the cliffs and how to maneuver around them, but before they were given the Claytons headed for the wilderness. The Potter told Marden that he would be the one to go back to the Claytons and lead them back to the land of Clayton. But, Marden humbly asked the Potter, “Who am I to bring the Claytons out of the wilderness?”

The Potter assured Marden that he would be with him and that as the Claytons were on their way back the Refiner’s fire would be a guide for them. Marden had the faith and hope that this was so, but he still wondered if the Claytons would believe him. The Potter formed two clay tablets with his own hand and wrote ten instructions upon them to be a sign of hope for Marden to take back down to the Claytons…. To Be Continued.

Originally written: 3-29-00 (My 28th birthday 🙂

~TRS

Once upon a time there was a potter who took great pleasure in creating various forms of pottery. One day the Potter decided to create a person out of clay. The potter took great joy in making the hands and feet of this little person. As the potter shaped each facial feature he would smile at his work. When the little person was complete the potter was satisfied with his new work of art. The potter took a close look at this little man made of clay and realized he was covered with dust. So, the potter took a deep breath and blew the dust from the clay man.

That was the breath of life as it came to be known. For when the dust rose off of the little clay man the potter’s breath gave life to him. The potter was even more pleased with his creation and he gave the little clay man the name, Clayton. The potter felt that Clayton needed a companion. As Clayton slept the potter took a piece of clay from the side of Clayton and formed a little clay woman, the potter called her, Amissa, which means companion and friend.

The potter had also created a little village made of clay for the new couple to live. Not far from the village was a place called the Land of the Cliffs. This was a place that they were told to never go. The reason the couple was to never go to the Land of the Cliffs was because they did not have any depth perception. This meant that if they ever went to this place they could walk right over a cliff and not realize it until they were on their way to the bottom of it.

The couple enjoyed living in the village and having fellowship with the Potter. Many times the couple admired each other and how there was not even one blemish on the body of clay of the other. One day a salesman came into their village. The salesman found Amissa and enticed her with a map of the Land of the Cliffs. She told the salesman that they were not supposed to go there. However, the salesman was persistent and assured her that with the map they would surely find the way. Her curiosity was peaked and she turned to Clayton to see his reaction.

Within a short time both had reached the land they were told to never enter. Neither could see that they were standing right on the edge of one of the cliffs. The couple being filled with curiosity and excitement glanced at each other and decided to go just a bit further. Each took the hand of the other and took the next step that became one that they would regret for the rest of their lives.

Over the cliff they both began to fall and at that moment their eyes were opened and they were able to perceive the depths in the Land of the Cliffs. By the time they reached the bottom their bodies that once had no blemishes were now scratched, chipped, and parts broken. They both were engulfed with feelings of shame, guilt, regret, and great sorrow for the choice that they had made.

After a great struggle each had made it back to the top of the cliff and eventually made their way back to the village. The Potter had come to fellowship with the couple, but they attempted to hide from the potter. The Potter called out for Clayton, but he responded that he was afraid to show his broken body. “How was your body broken?” asked the Potter. Clayton sorrowfully explained how he and Amissa were deceived to venture into the Land of the Cliffs.

As the Potter mended the broken bodies he explained that now life for them would be the sum of the choices they made. The couple was no longer allowed to live in the village, but would have to make their home in the Land of the Cliffs. Their new home was also given a new name, The Land of Clayton. The potter also informed them that since they had now both been broken that all of their offspring would be broken. The only for sure survival of the offspring would be if they were brought back to the Potter to be refined. To Be Continued…

*This is a 5 Part story started March 15, 2000. Stay tuned to find out what happens to The Claytons.

~TRS

Their eyes met and briefly they allowed each other a glimpse into each other’s souls. Then a quick look away as each of their faces became flushed and their hearts pounded loud, just as the native drums she remembered hearing once on a mission trip in a foreign land.

Raquel had been on several mission trips throughout her teen years and as a young adult had learned a few other languages. However, when she saw Jake she was completely speechless. Not a word from any language seemed to be able to roll from her lips as he walked closer.

Jake approached with an appearance of confidence while trembling at the knees. He said hello and she smiled, which seemed to be the spark needed to ignite their relationship. Everyone that knew them would seem to always say that they were the “perfect match.” Only a few weeks had passed and they just barely knew that the other had siblings when they walked down the aisle to be united in holy matrimony. No one would have ever believed that their love could be broken. Their love would not have been broken, but they never had love to begin with.

They had began their relationship submerged into the deceptions of infatuation. Usually after about two years the feeling associated with infatuation begin to cease and many will no longer think that they are “in love.” This is what was happening to Raquel and Jake. Both desperately wanted their relationship to work, but the harder each would try to express their love it was like a door being slammed in their face by the other.

Jake worked long and often hard days just to bring home a minimal amount. When he realized that his infatuation with Raquel had became like a smoldering ember he remembered what his father would often do for his mother. Jake stopped by the nearest florist on his way home to pick out a beautiful bouquet of flowers. He had the thought that this act of love would start the process to reignite their passion. He was almost embarrassed to enter their home because of his work aroma however, the fragrance of the flowers seemed to extinguish any doubts he had about leaving Raquel.

Raquel worked equally as hard at her job and then in the home. Though Jake helped out too Raquel believed that by doing all the acts of service for Jake he would love her more. Raquel just longed to spend quality time with Jake, but with his schedule that rarely seemed to happen. She would continue to feel unloved because it seemed Jake was never willing to make that quality time with her. The more gifts he brought to her and not spending time with her only seemed to dampen the small embers that were loosely holding them together.

As Jake contemplated other gifts he could get for Raquel he would remember back to when his dad gave his gifts to his mother she would always seem so appreciative. As a child, Jake would many times run outside and pick a wild flower to give to his mom because he wanted the big hug and smile he would receive from her. When he wouldn’t receive this from Raquel he would believe that she must not really love him.

A developmental crisis was in the making from the moment they both said, “I do.” Neither of them had learned to speak the other’s “love language.” It wasn’t until Raquel one day ran across the book, The Five Love Languages, by Gary Chapman that she remembered that in the Chinese language to translate the word crisis some would say, “within our biggest challenges are our greatest opportunities.” Love is a choice. You may have to learn to translate the way you show your love for others to truly understand.

Rewritten from a Story of Fiction published in The Outlook 2/23/00

~TRS

*This story was not based upon my wife and I but we have read the above mentioned book 🙂 I would encourage you to visit the 5 Love Languages website and find out your own

In a small town of Harmony there was never a lot for the young to do. There were only a few of the youth who would ever get into any kind of mischief. The nuisance they created was usually directed at who they called, “Ole man, Hayman.” Hayman had lived in this small town his entire sixty five years. He never married, has no children, and probably does not have a friend in the world.

He ran the only hardware store in town, however over the years his business decreased. It was not because of the new store that had opened up over in the next town, but was basically because Hayman never had a good word to say to anyone. It hadn’t always been that way however.

When Hayman was young, like those who now taunt him, he was quite popular. Hayman is a very talented pianist. He won every musical or talent contest that he ever entered. He had even been awarded a full scholarship to a college of music, but something happened that redirected the course his life could have gone.

In the town of Harmony also lived a man named Solomon. This was a man that even the most mischievous kid respected. He had been a teacher for thirty years and had been a pastor for twenty-five years after that. No one knew for sure his age, but all joked that he had to be nearing one hundred.

Solomon had been a widower for almost thirty years. His two children would come back to Harmony a few times a year to visit with his grandchildren. There never seemed to be a day though that went by that someone didn’t stop by to visit with Solomon and usually took him a gift or food. Solomon was very grateful and showed his appreciation by offering helpful suggestions that everyone in Harmony regarded as great wisdom.

There was a time when even Hayman would go to offer a gift to Solomon, but Hayman became angry because he never understood the question Solomon would ask him each time that he came. The question that would burn in Hayman’s mind for years was, “How many more times will you let the sun rise?”

It was a brisk day when Morty and his wife Estrella finally settled in their new home in Harmony. Both had not been back for years, but this was the small town that each of them had grown up in. Morty and Hayman had been close friends in high school and Hayman was even Morty’s best man at his wedding to Estrella. It was on that day when Hayman’s life was redirected.

Hayman had a difficult time ever expressing his feelings, except through music. For him, unfortunately, Estrella never could understand that the times as they grew up as neighbors, Hayman playing for her was his way of telling her that he loved her. After the wedding Morty and Estrella moved to another state. They have been married for almost fifty years, with three kids, and several grandchildren. After retiring they decided to move back to Harmony.

Over the years they had not kept in touch with anyone from Harmony and often thought about what ever happened to Hayman. Neither would have guessed that he had given up his scholarship and had stayed in Harmony to become the bitter man that he is. Morty knew of the tradition of people taking food to Solomon, so one night after Estrella made a home made pie he took it over.

Solomon answered the door and greeted Morty, but would not let him in or accept his gift. He told Morty to leave his gift at the door and seek reconciliation. Morty did not really understand what Solomon had meant for he could not think of anyone he had offended. Solomon encouraged Morty to follow the music and at that time Morty heard the pounding of ivory coming from the home place of Hayman.

As Morty approached Hayman’s he could almost feel the rage of the music that bellowed from the house. Morty wondered how could such an eerie sound come from the town of Harmony. It took time, but after awhile Hayman began to let go of his bitterness. It could be seen by his new, friendly behavior and be heard in his music that began to eloquently flow from his home. Hayman finally discovered the answer to the question Solomon had often asked him.

Originally written February 9th, 2000.

~TRS

Do you know the answer to the question Solomon asked Hayman for years? If not read Ephesians 4:26.

Peace. That is what she longed for. She had searched for it for a long time. She had a career, but she never found peace there. She thought several times she had found tranquility in a relationship, only to have her trust trampled underfoot.

Feelings of shame and guilt would then make her feel that much more alienated around everyone else. Seeing others happy only reminded her of what she never felt. Then one lonely night, three years ago she believed she had finally found what she had desperately longed for. A feeling of absolute freedom. All of the negative feelings such as her shame and feelings of complete emptiness just seemed to vanish.

She could now imagine what the great eagle must feel like. Up above the clouds looking down on a creation that seemed so far away when flying so high. She liked being up, because then she would be far away from everyone. All of those who had lied to her and cheated her, and all of those who reminded her of her failures.

She grew up in a well off family. It was just her and her parents. For years before her birth her parents had tried to have children, but the doctors basically told them it would be impossible. Her mom never believed that however. The one thing she had admired about her mother was her mother’s faith. She had often heard her mom joyfully tell of how she had given birth when it was thought of as being impossible.

Her mom would name her, Arabella, which means in Hebrew, answered prayer. Her parents were not perfect, but Arabella had always grown up expecting that she should be. Any little mistake and Arabella would be reminded by her father that she could do better. Over the years she had achieved many accomplishments but Arabella was too many times discouraged with believing that she still could have done better.

Nothing was ever good enough, until now, so she thought. Then she began to come down from her high. Her body ached and trembled as the needle still dangled from her arm. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to realized where she was at. On the floor of her one room, roach infested place she had come to call home.

Just a few years ago after she would close her own business she would drive to a two story house she had already paid for. However, driving up to that big house alone would only remind her of how she felt on the inside. Empty. She soon began to find comfort in the contents of a small syringe. It started out as just an occasional high. She had told some of her former friends that she could quit anytime she wanted, but that seemed to make her crave it all the more.

The contents of that small syringe soon became more expensive than her car, her house, and business. She strongly wished that her fantasy high would be reality. For, her reality had become such a nightmare. Arabella’s parents eventually realized some of the mistakes that they had made in raising her; like always pushing her to achieve, and never being encouraging or satisfied with any of her accomplishments.

Once again Arabella’s mother knew she was going to have to put her faith into practice. No matter how many prayers she prayed she realized that ultimately it was going to have to be Arabella’s choice to change and ask for help. Taking the needle from her arm tears began to well up in her already glossy eyes. As each tear fell she began to understand this was not the way her life was meant to be. She still had a spark of hope in the depths of her soul that gave her courage to ask for help.

There in the puddle of her tears she asked the One who could help her on her journey to overcoming the obstacle she had created for herself. It would not be an easy journey, but Arabella finally found the peace that she longed for. It was as if the rays of hope engulfed her as she finally understood the meaning of her name.

Originally written January 26, 2000

~Tim Stockton

Zeal is having a sense of enthusiasm, intensity, or vigor about something. Many people who have a yearning to do something will rarely accomplish it if they do not have the zeal to do it. It is very important for everyone to set goals. A goal is simply something you would like to accomplish. People with little self confidence are many times afraid to set goals, because they have no hope of ever reaching the goal.

A person with zeal is going to be motivated and believe that their goal is attainable. This person will also be one who has hope. Hope is believing that which is not yet seen will eventually be. If we have self confidence we will still be motivated to work toward our goals even if we don’t have the support of others.

It always helps however, when we are working to reach a goal that we have the support and encouragement from others. If others were discouraging and telling us we do not have the ability, or we should just give up, that is like throwing water on a spark of hope. When we are supportive of each other, offer kind words that is like helping to ignite a spark to becoming a blaze.

We all have been created with the potential to do great things. If we are blessed to be in an environment that is encouraging then we will be more likely to reach our fullest potential. Yet those in a non-supportive and demeaning environment may never feel they are given a chance or encouragement to develop the enthusiasm to accomplish their goals.

Parents, grandparents, teachers, and mentors are probably the ones who have the most opportunity to offer encouragement to children to develop their skills, talents, and special gifts. Anytime we see or know of someone who looks discouraged it just may be our encouragement and speaking something positive to them that will give them the zeal to fulfill their potential.

It has now been over 20 years ago when I started this journey of writing to encourage others. I had been a columnist for Wayne County’s hometown newspaper, The Outlook since January 1999. Because I had never been a columnist before I was afraid that I wouldn’t know what to write about at times, so I started the series “Articles of the Alphabet.” My goal was to write a column based on each letter such as Addictions, Bitterness, Crisis…X Marks the Spot, Yearning, and Zeal. I never thought that after starting my blog to re-write these articles a year ago that this year The Outlook would go all digital and as of now the digital version does not include the opinion columns.

Twenty years ago I was thankful for having the opportunity to write for the newspaper and now I am thankful for the ability to now have a blog. Whether it is only read by a few or by many my goal either way is to offer some encouragement and rays of hope to those who need it.

“Our love must be sincere and we must cling to what is good. We must be devoted to one another and honor each other above ourselves. We should never be lacking in zeal, but keep our spiritual enthusiasm serving the Lord.” Romans 12:9-11

Originally written December 29, 1999.

TRS

*** Stay tuned for my next series called, “Stories of Fiction”

Click on the link to add your email address to become a follower of this blog… Thanks and God bless.

Yearning is to seek earnestly for what one desires or longs for. Most everyone has something that they truly yearn for. What people yearn for will be different based upon individual wants and needs. Back in the 70s Abraham Maslow was a leading authority on motivation and he had developed a hierarchy of needs to show how humans naturally partake in behavioral motivation. According to Maslow people have basic needs that have to be met before they can move on to a higher level of needs that need to be met.

This article is being rewritten from an article I wrote for The Outlook back in 1999. The info on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs I paraphrase came from my first psychology book from my first class I took that helped me realize I wanted to be a counselor, Psychology Today, 7th ed. 1991, McGraw Hill Publishing.

The first set of needs that have to be met are ones physiological needs, such as hunger and thirst. Someone who is homeless my have to continually operate on this level because all to often they may never know where their next meal or drink is coming from. Therefore, their higher needs of love and acceptance can’t be met either until their physiological needs are met.

Once the basic needs of survival are met then one also will strive to have their need for safety to be met. People want to be able to feel safe and secure and out of danger. Unfortunately, many who are in violent and/or abusive relationships get stuck at this level always seeking to be out of harms way from their perpetrator. If one never feels safe they will never really care whether or not other psychological needs are being met.

As needs are met at the lower levels of the hierarchy one can move up to the other levels. Once the fundamental needs are met then one can focus on their psychological needs. People will yearn to be accepted and loved and have a sense of belonging. According to Maslow once a person feels that they are loved, accepted, and belong then they will have a yearning to achieve and gain approval and recognition. At this time a person has developed self-respect.

This is very important because one has to have self respect before than can ever respect anyone else. This is like the principle of loving your neighbor as yourself. You can’t love others if you don’t even love yourself. The final stage is the need for self-actualization according to Maslow. He believed that only a small percentage of people ever reached this level. He believed at this level is when a person has reached their unique potential, such as Mother Theresa.

This does not mean that to reach your unique potential that you have to become a nun and dedicate your life to helping the less fortunate. Being self-actualized is very similar to being sanctified as mentioned in the Bible. The Holman Bible Dictionary defines sanctification as the concern with the moral and spiritual obligations a person assumes once their life has been transformed by the grace of God. To paraphrase Matthew 6:33, if we yearn for the kingdom of God and His righteousness then all of our lessor needs will be met.

Rewritten from December 22, 1999

~TRS

X marked the spot on the aged map that was to supposedly lead to a treasure that was once captured by Edward Thach, otherwise known to history as the notorious pirate, Blackbeard. Ed had often heard of the stories and legends passed down from generation to generation of the possibility he was a descendant of a pirate.

One day Ed was packing things away to move. He took down a family picture of his great grandparents when he tripped over a box. Ed caught himself before he fell, but the picture plunged to the floor shattering the glass that had protected the picture for years. With a tinge of anger at himself Ed began picking up broken pieces of glass when he realized that behind the picture was the map he had heard about from his youth.

Ed’s anger quickly turned to excitement as he contemplated the possibility of discovering a hidden treasure. Thoughts of finding fulfillment in life and great joy flooded his mind as he gazed over the map. The map gave directions to various locations that would help uncover truths of the whereabouts of the hidden treasures. Most importantly the map revealed ways to get through obstacles that were devised to stop others from unearthing the treasure.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all find an old map that would help us get through obstacles and eventually lead us to a treasure that could bring us fulfillment and joy. The amazing thing is that most people have such a map, or have access to get one. It is called the Bible. For generations this best-selling book has guided many on a journey through wars, devastation, floods, plagues, times of peace and love to find joy in life’s treasures and peace in the midst of life’s tragedies.

Pastor and author, Charles Stanley once taught about “discovering God’s will,” which in order to do so he wrote about getting rid of distractions in our lives. Distractions often will hinder our faith which will create obstacles that will stunt our spiritual growth and maturity. Once we rid ourselves of distractions the next step is to seek. Once we are seeking we need to think on God.

Temptation is not sin, but all sin is brought about by a thought that becomes a temptation. Therefore, if we can think on Godly things this will be a weapon to destroy sin from entering in. As we are able to think of God then our behaviors will also reflect what our thoughts are. 1 Thessalonians 4 teaches four ways to please God by the way we live and Hebrews 10:36 lets us know of the promises we can receive by doing the will of God.

This treasure map can truly change your life. Over generations there are many examples and testimonies of lives being changed by people from all walks of life following this “map.” We are reminded in the gospel of Matthew to not store up for ourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves steal. But, to store up for ourselves treasures in Heaven where nothing can destroy. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” If you feel you have lost direction in your life, or you know you have never had it, then find the true Treasure Map . X won’t mark the spot but, God will.

Re- written from December 1, 1999.

~TRS

Worry is when one begins to feel or express great anxiety or apprehensive uneasiness. Many years ago the Mayo Clinic reported that statistically 80 to 85 percent of their total case load were ill either in reality or artificially due to stress. It had been stated that at the beginning of the century bacteria were considered the major causes of illness, but now stress has replaced bacteria.

People worry either about things that “may happen” or things that “may not happen.” Those who worry for whatever reasons have a great fear or dread of what may or may not come about. Therefore, what they are worried about hasn’t actually happened, but they can’t get it out of their mind that something bad will happen or something good will not.

People may tell us not to worry because everything will be alright. But we may think how do they know everything will be alright? That thought could start a vicious cycle. Thankfully, there is no proof of what may physically happen to us tomorrow. Probably, if one hundred people were told they could see into the future to see what will happen to them, my assumption would be 98 people wouldn’t want to know. How would the 2 react who chose to look into the future? One of them found out that he would live a long and prosperous life. Does this mean he will be worry free? He may not worry about himself, but his fate will differ from that of his family. He was not told that all would be well for them, so now he will worry about them.

What if the other one who looked into the future found out that her end was very near. Wouldn’t this give her more reason to worry? So, really the two who look into the future are no better off than the 98 who didn’t. What if then the 98 who didn’t look into the future now worry about missing their opportunity to have done so. Will the cycle ever end?

Worry can be a vicious cycle that unfortunately can lead to many illnesses. What they worried about never happened, but then the worry of it leads to an illness that they have that now they are really worried about being sick. Now they are worried about the illness they have even though they know that worrying about it is only going to make it worse.

The National Bureau of Standards once stated, “a dense fog covering 7 city blocks to a depth of 100 feet is composed of something less than one glass of water.” This means that if all of that fog could be gathered together it could be held in a single drinking glass with room for more. Someone anonymous once told that our worry about things can be compared to fog. “If we could see into the future and if we could see our problems in their true light, they wouldn’t blind us to the world or to living our life. Instead, they would be seen in their true light; regulated to their true size and place knowing there was nothing really to worry about. All our huge mountains of problems can be shrunk down to fit in a drinking glass that we then can pour down the drain releasing the worry.

To tell yourself not to worry is easier said than done. A local doctor once told a patient that was overcome with anxiety about a recent life event told that he was reminded of a sign his father had in his office, “why pray when you can worry?” Once in a Reader’s Digest a story told of a worried lady who worked for a veterinarian was going to have surgery and his advise to her, “Turn your worries into prayers, get plenty of rest and don’t lick your incision.”

Prayer and meditation are proven to help decrease worry, but don’t worry if you have to use medication to deal with true Anxiety and/or Depression that is not just “situational.” For those out there who may think using medication is “wrong” to treat this disorder then if they are wearing glasses tell them to take them off; or the next time they have a headache or stomach ache don’t use any OTC meds or go to the doctor.

There is another anonymous quote that states, “if we worry we can’t trust. If we trust we can’t worry.” My version of this would be for those who tend to worry we do have a promise we can find hope in. Philippians 4:6-7 basically states that if we are worried about anything, if we present it to God with prayer and thanksgiving we will be given a peace that transcends all understanding that will guard our hearts and our minds.

Rewritten from article originally written November 10, 1999

~TRS

Value is a term that is usually associated with how much something is worth in money. However, another definition according to Webster is that value is to rate or scale something in usefulness or importance. Also, when something is valued it is held in high regard or greatly appreciated. The definition of value that states it is to rank things in importance reminds me of the definition of priority. Priority is to rank in importance or preference and is the quality or state of coming before another in time.

There’s nothing wrong with having materialistic things that are valuable, but when these things, including money are being held at a higher priority than personal relationships problems are likely to arise. In today’s fast-paced society it is very easy to lose sight of what is really important and for our priorities to get out of kilter.

Relationships are what I am suggesting to be of most value. How we relate to God, family, friends, acquaintances, and society should be of importance to us. It has been said that there is no greater love than to lay one’s life down for a friend. But, it probably will not be often we will get a chance to step in front of an out-of-control bus, or flying bullets to let others know that we truly love them and care for them.

Could it be possible to lay down whatever is keeping us too busy to be with a friend? Is it possible to lay down our desires and efforts to have more materialistic things for family and friends that we tend to neglect? Sometimes we may attempt to rationalize our efforts to get more things by saying, “I’m doing this for you, or for us.” However, it would be better put this way, “I’m working so hard, spending so much time away, neglecting my relationships to get in debt for things that I think will make us happy.”

There is nothing wrong with having “things” and striving for them to an extent. It is just when we put getting things above our relationships is when problems can arise. Take a look at what you are holding valuable in your life and determine how valuable it is. Is it, or are they worth it to you to lay your life down? Isn’t it awesome to think that each of us have One that did choose to lay His life down for us. Whether you believe it or not we are all created in the image of God and that makes us special, worth something, and very valuable.

Originally written 10-20-99 —TRS