Who are the most important people in my life? These are the people that I love most and with whom I would want to grow old. One of the things I will regret most in my life one day, is that I have neglected my relationships with them.

Although one usually spends time with your closest family, because you live together, you should make effort to spend quality time with them – time that will strengthen the relationship between you and them and that will create memories that will last forever. Make sure that you plan special time for these people in your diary, and plan to do something, that they will value, with them. Make an effort to know what is going on in their lives.

The special people in your life include your:

• Spouse: if you’re married, this is the most important relationship you should kindle. Not only yourself or your spouse, but your children depend on the quality of this relationship. Be romantic. Be respectful. Be open. Be a team. Give him or her the special treatment they deserve as the most special person in your life.

So each husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself, and each wife should respect her husband.

Ephesians 5:33 CEV

Love is simply the name for the desire and pursuit of the whole

Plato

• Children: you have an huge influence in their lives. From you, they will get the majority of their values, identity and self-esteem, love and security. Children need the continuous encouragement, acceptance and acknowledgement of their parents just as much as they need food and a warm bed. All children need to be reprimanded regularly, but your reprimands should never exceed your compliments and positive words. Live yourself what you teach. Have a genuine interest in your child’s activities. Go on special trips with each of your children alone – an activity your child chose to do with you. Make a point of sitting with them daily to discuss their day. Eat at least one meal per day as a family together (not in front of the TV). Go as a family on vacation at least once a year. Do projects together.
• Parents: they usually love you more than you love them (you realise this when you get your own children!). Spoil them by spending enough time with them. Make your visits to them special. Probably the most important thing they want to know about you, is if there is anything they can help you with (even if it is only by praying for you) and that you still love them. Help them where you can – technology, the speed of life and the changing world can be difficult for them to cope with.
• Siblings: some you get along with better than the others. But these people are still your flesh and blood, and when things really go wrong in your life, they will usually stand behind you. Fulfil the same role for them.
• Best friends: never be so busy that you forget your best friends. We all know many people, but there are those really special ones we just seem to get along with really well. Sometimes you have known them for decades, sometimes only for a short time. 

We all know these special people are precious to us. But before you know, another month or year has passed without seeing them. We are tempted to think that contacting them on social networks is sufficient. Make a point of regularly spending quality time with your family, relatives and friends.