I was recently able to spend time with one of my favorite people. Well that is really putting it lightly, hero or rock seem to fit a little better. My grandfather, Harold Swords has played many roles in many peoples lives, mainly his family. You will not find one person in our family that does not adore him and vice versa. Like most people he comes in contact with, when we get together it is full of wise cracks, jokes and plain silliness at times. He is the one to blame if I have ever pestered you or shot my mouth off with a wise crack towards you. He is the leader of the pack.
During our few hours together grandpa was telling me about his recent road trip to Arizona where he took my grandma to see her sister. My uncle, Harold jr. drove them across the 5 states from Tennessee. Grandpa was telling me about how fast uncle Harold was driving. He said " I told him that this was a little car and I don't want to push it, set the cruise at 68 mph and leave it". He added " the car slowed down for a few minutes and before long it was back up to 75 mph, so I said forget it". This was not the first time I have heard him talk about going 68 or even 65 mph. I can remember not long after I got my license I rode to Ohio with my grandparents and on the way home they let my sister and myself drive. Grandpa again said those same words "set it at 68 and keep it on the road". I have thought about this statement the rest of the week and it has lead me to writing this blog. It got me thinking about how in a world where everyone is obsessed with going fast, getting it fast, doing it fast, being faster in every which way can a man have the patience to slow it down. I began to think about the benefits of slowing down when driving. To name a few, you save on fuel mileage, you increase your safety factor (as long as you don't go too slow), you save wear and tear on your vehicle. Remember I am just talking about driving a car. Think about what it would do to your life! Undoubtedly it would decrease your stress level, open your eyes to new possibilities, enjoy life a little better. Slowing down does not mean decreasing activity but rather being more open to new activities that you have never thought of or always wanted to try. Taking a breath and allowing yourself to smile while gaining inner peace that only comes from God. Slowing down for each person may be different. For some it may be decreased work time to spend with family, others may be getting away from the full time mom role for regular date nights or spa days or getting a job to be more active and build self esteem and get the "needed" feeling back. Maybe it is taking the time to spend a few hours with your grandpa or someone else you admire. Most important all of us need to slow down and spend our time with God each day. This is a struggle for the majority. Life happens and time with the Lord seems to get pushed to the back of the line, if it is in the line at all. This blog is just a simple reminder to enjoy life, love God and slow down to give the most of both. "Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. rWalk in the ways of your heart and sthe sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things tGod will bring you into judgment. 10 Remove vexation from your heart, and uput away pain3 from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity." Ecclesiastes 11:8-10 Brandon Grant
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