Counsel #11 — Companionship

Picture: Counsel #11 — CompanionshipCR 216.1

Have you ever looked across the breakfast table at your spouse and realized it’s been days since you truly connected? I don’t mean a quick “how was your day?” or a rushed dinner conversation, but real, unrushed, present-time together. It’s surprisingly easy to live under the same roof and still feel distant from the people you love most.CR 216.2

That’s where family companionship comes in. Many families have nice, fun ideas about how to spend time together, but it takes more than simply “having an idea.” True companionship means choosing to be emotionally and physically available, present, and engaged on a consistent basis. It’s the difference between sitting on the couch in silence and taking a family walk around the neighborhood to catch up on the day’s events. It’s pausing the to-do list or the work assignment for a game, a shared devotion, or five minutes of undivided attention. Strong families don’t happen because people get along all the time. They happen because people keep choosing to stay connected, with God leading the way.^{[227] https://adventistreview.org/lifestyles/family/the-sacred-space-of-family-time/} CR 216.3

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” Ecclesiastes 4:9 NIVCR 216.4

“Lay off care and perplexity with the labors of the day.... Let the evenings be spent as happily as possible.” Ellen White in My Life Today, p. 199CR 216.5

Reflect: Do you spend consistent time with your family each week? If so, what are some activities you do together? If not, how can you become more active?CR 216.6