Family vacations are critical to family relationships. The time away represents much more than rest or relaxation. It’s more than ceasing from the everyday grind.
Family vacations are sacred time. Yes, sacred.
They are the time we set aside and dedicate to spend with our beloveds for the purpose of knitting hearts and relationships tight so that they will not be severed.
Jesus set time aside often to meet with His Father, and with His disciples. The crowd was not invited into those inner circles.
It wasn’t that the crowd didn’t matter or hold importance to Him. But He knew if the motley crew were going to hold together after He was gone, it was going to take some doing.
These vacations days are days where we discover …
much like the baby did, that while I thought I didn’t like you, I actually love you,
it’s safe to be silly because laughter is not only fun, it is good for the soul,
we’re all different and we don’t all have the same routines, and this works out wonderfully,
the middle seat in the third row of the van is where the best conversations occur,
the middle seat is also where one become a child again -Â acting like a seven year old, or an 11 year old – it’s your pick!
Family vacations means everyone pitches in and helps to make each day go smoothly. We help one another out because we are family, and our desire is for all of us to have fun and rest.
God kept reminding me of His Word, His promise to us. It’s the way He operates in our each of our lives as He knows our longing to belong, to be accepted, and to be loved.
“God sets the solitary in families … “ (Psalm 68:6, NKJV)
He sets the solitary, those who are alone or feel lonely, so they no longer are alone. He sets us in the place where we are treasured.
Family vacations are the times where memories are made,
then set deeply in our hearts and minds,
to be treasured forever!
Today I am joining… Woman to Woman and Recharge Wednesday and Let’s Have Coffee .
I love all that you gleaned from family vacation! It’s so true — especially the parts about being silly and that middle row of the van. 😉
Oh my gosh, Rebecca, we laughed till our sides hurt and our eyes squirted. I think everyone should take a turn in that seat 🙂
I love your photos, and that you had a good time with family. Those times are so important!
This is so perfect, Joanne. I totally agree with you: Family vacations are sacred time. I felt SO blessed that we got to experience that again this summer with both my daughters and their husbands and our granddaughter. It was a beautiful time. Your vacation looks and sounds so lovely too!
I rewrote a post this week from my archives, and your comment was the first one on the original post in 2013. 🙂 It made me smile to see we’ve been reading each other for 6 years.
Lisa, it is amazing the connections which can be made through sharing our words. I didn’t realize it had been that long but I knew for sure your writing has blessed and encouraged my life. And I love that you also had a wonderful vacation with your family. Every generation is such a blessing!