I think the older I get, the more time outs I need.  Really!  I certainly can tell when I’ve neglected one too many of my daily “sit and listen to Jesus” times, devotions, quiet times, prayer times, or whatever you want to call it times.  Something seems to sour in me, like curdled milk.  And when I notice my less-than-gracious thoughts, like flies gathering around my head, have become a nuisance, that’s when it usually dawns on me that I’d better take time to get straightened out.  Hopefully this realization comes to me before I say or do or believe something I’ll regret.

When everyone is in bed is the best time for me, and the sweet thing is that it’s not a punishment to “sit in the corner” in my time out with God.  It’s a reward!

Sometimes I read the Bible, chapter after chapter, and find that many things I’d learned are woven together with ideas just recently uncovered.  Sometimes I take notes.  Sometimes I copy a few lines so I can look at them more carefully and refer to them later.  Sometimes I write my thoughts or prayers.  Sometimes I doodle.  Often I end up dozing off.  Then I fold it all up and put it in his hands and go to bed.  Time outs are quite effective (and necessary) at my age!