Ever felt like, “If things don’t slow down I’m going to fly off this roller coaster?”

Life today is full of busyness - busy jobs, busy lifestyles, busy children and busy social schedules. If not careful, we cannot see the forest for the trees. We get lost in a sea of busyness.

I am a winter person. I like the cold winters more than the hot summers. Besides that, the grass does not need mowed in winter. I enjoy cutting firewood and then we burn the wood to heat our home. Many people in times of stress turn to comfort food. I turn to the comfort of the fire in the stove. I enjoy getting up early in the morning to the cool house and stoking the fire; then I sit and watch it. I may even grab a book and read by the firelight. The real highlight is when the grandkids are there. They wake up and come out and I wrap them up in a blanket, sit them on my lap and I tell them how much Papa loves them. Then we add up how much Grammy and Daddy and Mommy love them and I explain that God loves them more than all of the rest of us put together.

In 1977 Waylon Jennings sang a country song, “The Basics of Love.” The key line was “Maybe its time we got back to the basics of love.” Are you tired of the rat race of life? Why not get back to the basics of love. God loves you more than you love all of the things that are keeping you from Him. God loves you more than all the people that are trying to keep you so busy you do not have time for Him. God loves you for who you are, not for what you do. God loves you so much that “He gave His one and only son so that you might live with Him forever.” (John 3:16)

Do not miss out on the basics of love because you are too busy loving the things of life. When this life is over, there is only one thing you can take with you to heavenloved ones. Why not slow down today and explain to them just how much you love them and that God loves them more than you do. Make today the day that you get back to the basics of love.

Ken Smith is the pastor at the Hickory Grove Church in Delphi.