No Regrets

By Juel A. Fitzgerald on July 7, 2024

Two weekends in a row I lay my head on my red pillow in two different time zones. The first was in Nevada on Pacific Time. The second was in North Carolina on Eastern Time.

Both involved time with family and friends. My husband, my father, and me flew out to Las Vegas for an 80th birthday celebration of a family friend. While there we visited with family. The second weekend our trio drove to North Carolina for a family reunion on my dad's side. Food, fellowship, laughs, and reminiscing filled the days of both weekends. These gatherings were for strengthening relationships and valuing every minute we have with each other. We don't know how much time we a have with our loved ones.

There was a time where our family traveled to California regularly. My aunt lived in San Diego while I was visiting in Los Angeles. The time with traffic between the two cities prevented me from visiting her. I knew I would see her next time. Next time never came. She died before I got back. So, now I make sure if I am traveling within 50 miles of family or friends I let them know I am there to spend time with them. If they are unavailable, I have no regrets like I did with my aunt.

How important is it for us to spend time with the families God has given us before it's too late?

"Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged." Colossians 3:18-21 (NIV).

"Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." I Timothy 5:8 (NIV).

"'Honor your father and mother'—which is the first commandment with a promise— 'so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.'" Ephesians 6:2-3 (NIV).

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Juel A. Fitzgerald has a degree in English and is a Toastmaster trained public speaker, loves to travel, walk long distances with friends, and is a driving instructor for teens. She speaks on two YouTube Channels and writes in four blogs. She is the author of "Lives of a Gem! God's Treasured Possession", "Bible Trek: Reading the Bible in Thirteen Weeks", and "The Twelve: Fishers of Men".

These are her four blogs and two YouTube Channels:

Heart Emissions – weekly spiritual devotionals.
Juel's Travel Beacon – travel information and tips.
Walking For God Challenge – one year blog to raise funds for HOPE worldwide.
Writer's Blog – writer's journey, news and other information
Monday Emissions From The Heart - YouTube Channel - weekly spiritual messages.
Juel's Travels - YouTube Travel Channel

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