I want to close out this portion of the love language series with another look at Scripture. This might be the most powerful example of quality time I can find in the Bible.

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place …. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him.

And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.

Job 2:11-13

In the midst of unfathomable tragedy, Job’s friends do two things to express their love for their brother. They showed up and they shut up (at least at first). They joined Job in his pain, coming alongside of him in this hour of sorrow. And they simply want to be present with him, for they know that there are some circumstances for which there are simply no words.

In the moment when he needed his friends the most, these three trusted companions give Job an incredible gift: the gift of their time, even in the midst of his pain.

Look again at the actions these friends took:

1. They came to Job. They didn’t flinch or recoil at Job’s pain, as some might have. Instead, they make a move toward their friend.
2. They planned ahead. They made an appointment to collectively offer sympathy and comfort.
3. They wept with him. His tears became their tears.
4. They sat with him. They got down on his level, joining him in the dust and dirt (an ancient form of grieving).
5. They didn’t feel the need to say anything. They were content to simply be present with Job in his pain.

This is the gift of quality time, even in the face of tragedy. We cannot alleviate the pain our friends and loved ones might be experiencing. But we can let them know that they’re not walking through their pain all alone. We can come alongside and weep with them and hold their hand and wipe their tears.

This is a powerful example of what it looks like to gift someone with our time.