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Question

 

Dear Gramps,

When are we supposed to stay up late and have some fun, maybe watch some movies?  I come home exhausted Friday afternoon, and can’t stay up because I’m too tired.  I can’t stay up late on Saturday night because we have church early Sunday morning   And Sunday night is the Sabbath, and I have to turn in early so I can get up early and go to work Monday morning.  So when can I stay up late and have some fun?

Robert

 

Answer

 

Dear Robert,

Your question breaks my heart. It sounds like you work very hard and that’s an aspect I deeply admire, because you just don’t see it much anymore. Then you mention that you can’t stay up late on Saturday night because of church on Sunday, then of course, you have to go to sleep early on Sunday because like most of us, you work on Monday morning. It’s clear to all of us that you work very hard. Not only do you work hard, but you live the gospel standards and take them seriously. All of us here at Ask Gramps, and our readers, will surely admire you for that.

Please remember that as busy as you are, the apostles of our church are also very busy men. Given the demands on their time from the Church and families, not to mention their age, I’m often stunned to hear that they have had hobbies and interests, sometimes very fascinating ones. Our former prophet Thomas S. Monson had a keen interest in pigeons. He raised prize winning pigeons.  Henry B Eyring likes to draw and paint with watercolors. Our current prophet, Russel M. Nelson, likes to ski and ride horses. All these men are able to fulfill their commitments to work, the Church, and their families, and squeeze in some spare time to do things that make them happy and give them peace.

There is a famous passage in the bible, Ecclesiastes 3:1 that says

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose in under the Heaven.”

In other words, it’s okay to take some time to relax and enjoy your life. In fact, you need to do so in order to remain healthy and productive. You don’t want to burn yourself out. Sometimes in our busy lives we forget that it’s okay to make a schedule that allows yourself an hour here or there to unwind and relax a bit. It’s difficult, but perhaps making a schedule where you put in specific time to dedicate to a hobby might help out with this.

You are in our prayers,

Gramps

 

 

 

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