I went back and forth on the title of this post, I was deciding between “Get Your Priorities Straight” and “Your Family Is More Important Than Your Desire To Take Care Of Your Family.” Either way, I’m thinking, feeling and writing the same thing.
It seems like I have been a part of at least 4-5 conversations in the last couple of months with individuals who are struggling with getting their priorities straight and somewhat of a “Where do I go from here?” dilemma. Each and every time the conversations centers around what they are doing professionally, what God has called them to do, the amount of time they are spending with their family, putting people and success over family, putting their job over their marriage and putting their drive for success over their kids etc.
There is always tension in the area of “Getting Our Priorities Straight.” This past weekend while my wife and I were at our son’s track meet in Texas, I received a short e-mail from someone that I don’t know, that made me think about priorities. I’m sure the e-mail is a result of me sharing my kids/family business via social media. The e-mail simply read, “Scott, your care for your children is the bomb! I don’t often see folks so willing to tote their children so many places when they’re involved in in so many extra curricular activities. You’re a great example.”
The crazy thing is I receive random Twitter, Facebook & email notes from people all of the time with some mention of mine or Lakendria’s interaction with our sons. It can be the simplest things, even our weekly barbershop and Sonic run that people make mention of. Those notes always remind me of the simple fact that we have to get our priorities straight. I’m not saying our priorities involve weekly Sonic runs or being involved in lots of extra curricular activities. I am saying that our priorities are this simple:
- 1. God – Love God, Seek God, Worship God, Study God’s Word, Give, Spend Time, Pray, Serve, Seek, Listen, Love, Read, Striving for our God Potential…
- 2. Family – Invest in your family, invest in your marriage, invest in your kids, put family above everything else besides God. Your family is more important than your image, work, status etc. Your family is more important than your desire to take care of your family. Don’t put the latter before the former.
- 3. Everything Else – Work, Works, Will, Wants… Don’t ever let whatever falls in this category to trump God & Family. Yes you have to work to take care of your family, but there must be a balance, we must get our priorities straight. In case you are wondering if your priorities are straight, simply ask your wife, ask your children and ask those who love you dearly. Make adjustments as necessary.
Everyone has different priorities, it’s important to sit down as a family and figure out what those priorities are. Some people may think our priorities are jacked up, because we spend so much time toting our kids around as the e-mail read. I thank God for the freedom to choose and the freedom to prioritize. My current reality consists of quite a bit of traveling; however those events always run through my priority grid. My 8yo’s piano recital, family vacation, track meets, date nights etc. are more important to me than speaking to thousands of people at a conference.
Sometimes scheduling conflicts will occur; however when I have the ability to choose… I will choose to get my priorities straight.
Share Your Thoughts on Getting Our Priorities Straight?
