Well, it was a nice 4th.....we just sat on the deck, reading our books while still keeping an eye on the kids swimming in the pond. We haven't relaxed like that in an awfully long time. It seems like the busyness of life just keeps ramping upwards, until I feel like I'm Linus in the "Peanuts" comic strips. You know, when he's sitting there with his blankie, and Snoopy rushes in, grabs the blankie, and there's Linus, flying along behind, thumb still firmly implanted in mouth.

The next big thing is VBS. I have a new respect for VBS and it's value this year than I've had in years past. In the past, I had gotten rather cynical, wondering if this weeklong activity was worth all the effort. What were we doing? It "looked" like we were just entertaining children, in the name of Jesus, but still, it seemed like just so much entertainment.

Then, one of the adult daughters told us of how she'd asked Jesus into her heart at VBS when just a little child. And I am stopped in my tracks. It could be the whole difference in her life, when all is said and done.

So, now, VBS has taken on a whole new importance and vibrance for me. As I prepare, I'm thinking much more about hte possibility that some child will make a real connection to the Lord during that week. That a child will feel the love of Jesus and the love of others around them. And the busyness doesn't seem like such a bad thing anymore.

While we could all use some balance in our busy lives, we need to really look at what we are busy
at. Are busy at things that are going to make a difference to others, or are we doing stuff just for our own pleasure. Now, I'm not knocking having a good time for some R&R, but the frenetic activity I see among parents, especially, makes me wonder if it's worth it. Little league sports and ballet have become so overwhelming, that there seems to be little time for children to just enjoy

play.

Also, are we teaching our children to serve others? Are we, by running them to and fro for lessons, practices, games, recitals, taking the time to also serve? To visit an elderly relative or friend, or pass out coats at the Salvation Army in the fall, or cleaning up at a soup kitchen?

If we are going to be busy, we should probably consider if our busyness is profitable for the training of our children to be the generous adults we hope they will become.