Relational Devotion #27 [family]

Hi, Everyone.
I trust you had a nice weekend and are ready for a great week. I had a realization, personally, when I wrote today's devotion. Maybe you can relate.

Relational Devotion #27 [family]

John 19:25-27
"Standing near the cross were Jesus' mother, and His mother's sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother standing there beside the disciple He loved, He said to her, 'Dear woman, here is your son.' And He said to this disciple, 'Here is your mother.' And from then on this disciple took her into his home."

     There were three Marys standing near the cross. It is unimaginable that a mother could stand to see her son crucified, but the love of mother for son was stronger than the horror she endured. Mary could not desert her son, in the hours of His greatest trial.
     When Jesus looks upon His mother, during the last moments of His earthly life, He does something that is so precious. He looks beyond His pain, and He makes sure that His mother is taken care of, by presenting her with a new son, John, the only disciple at the crucifixion, who called himself "the disciple [Jesus] loved." John does not hesitate to accept his new mother, and from that moment until her earthly journey is over, she lives in John's home.

What this has to do with weight loss:  Sometimes, those of us on the weight-loss journey focus so much on our needs and wants that we forget to take care of the emotional needs of our family. Perhaps we're too introspective or have been so successful that our pride takes over and we want to be the star of our own show. What we may not realize is that time is passing, and the moments we have as a daughter/son, sister/brother, wife/husband, mother/father, grandmother/grandfather will not last forever.

Today, take stock of your relationships. Which do you do--take advantage of the time or "take advantage" of the relationship? Decide to make each moment count, with those you love. Listen to the a cappella quartet Pressin' On, as they sing "Love Them While You Can."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVLxXOQDSUI

Blessings,
Mary