The Calendar

Nowadays, if I don't put something on my calendar, chances are I'm going to forget it.Years ago, we had large paper calendars hanging on the wall, desk calendars, and little calendars tucked inside our purses. There were no electronic calendars. Today, everything goes into our phones, our tablets, or the cloud. We use calendars to remind us of appointments, commitments, birthdays, meetings, and all the responsibilities of daily life.And keeping a calendar is a good thing.But today, I want to encourage you to leave a little space for the unexpected.Leave room for spontaneous meetings. Leave room for flexible moments. Leave room for surprises.It is good to be surprised.It is good to receive a call from a friend asking if you'd like to meet for coffee or tea.It is good to look at your spouse and suddenly decide to go out for ice cream.It is good to visit someone without months of planning.Those unplanned moments are good for the soul.A joyful heart has a way of blessing everyone around it. Joy is like a seed, it reproduces wherever it is planted. Sometimes the memories we treasure most were never scheduled at all.So yes, keep your calendar. Synchronize it with your family if you can, so everyone stays informed and connected.But don't fill every blank space.Leave a little room so that when someone calls, or when you feel prompted to call someone you love, you can gladly say,Yes!