Return on Investment
Have you thought about the importance of investment? The investment you make in the lives of others? Earlier this week, I celebrated my birthday and was reading the birthday wishes people had written to me on social media. As I read through each one my heart was so full and thankful. I’ve realized that many of these relationships have been built on social media where people have gotten to know me through posts and interactions with me. Although we have never met in person, there has been an investment made in time answering messages or just commenting on post. As I’ve been my authentic self, not polished and certainly not perfect, I’ve built relationships with new friends over social media.
Other messages I received were from people I've known and have not seen in a long time. One message in particular really touched my heart from one of Taylor’s friends from Elementary school, a message from Leanne. There was an investment made in that relationship many years ago. We first met Leanne when she moved to Damascus with her Dad and she and Taylor became friends. Throughout the school years, Leanne spent many times at our home with other girls who were Taylor’s friends. It seems we were always having something going on at our house; sleep overs, Homecoming pictures, pool parties, cheerleading, dance practice and even makeup parties. I spent many hours driving kids around and picking them up and I ENJOYED every minute of it. Leanne moved away after high school and we have kept up occasionally on social media, but her message to me on Facebook really touched my heart. She recounted all the things I did with her when she was younger and how much she appreciated them. For someone in her 20’s to remember those little things I did…I can’t even describe what that means to me.
Friend, you will never lose when you invest your time in other’s. Young parents, hear me when I share this… make yourself available to not only your children but to their friends too. Open up your home, open up your heart and be there. Be the one who drives kids around, pick them up, sit with them, have fun with them and be available to listen to them. Some of the most precious times and memories I’ve had is driving my kids and their friends around in my big ole jacked up Suburban! And it doesn’t end there, no matter what age or stage of life you’re in, there is always someone in your life that needs your investment of time. YOU have what they need. I know we live in a world that is busy, and you’ve got lot’s to do… It takes times to invest in other’s, but oh how sweet and how rich you will be when that return of your time invested comes back to bless you one hundred fold.
If you want to live a rich and abundant life, I encourage and challenge you to invest in other’s. You won’t have to look far. Each and every one of us has people that God has placed right in our lives; they are yours my friend. Invest and invest with your whole heart and get ready for a great return! Be encouraged and know that I am always cheering YOU on!