I don’t want to miss out on the important stuff. Because life is busy, I set goals and review my priorities regularly.
I sat down the other day to review my goals for the year. I’ve been convicted recently that I need to grow in the ways I show love to the people in my life. I was thinking and praying and writing. Right at the moment I started getting into it, David walked up, reached out his right hand and rested it on my hand as he looked off into the distance. This is David’s way of asking to be picked up and held. I was busy, so I said hi to him, told him I couldn’t pick him up right now, removed his hand and continued working.
A couple of minutes went by. David came back and again placed his hand on mine—interrupting my writing this time. Again, I acknowledged him and sent him away.
A few minutes later the same thing happened again. David, standing in front of me. Hand on my hand, keeping me from writing down my thoughts and goals about living out a life that shows love better. I was annoyed.
That morning, I was focused on what I was doing. David was interrupting me. I was trying to get things done. I was working on something important. I didn’t have time to pick David up. I need time to focus so I could live the life God has called me to live.
Meanwhile, David kept coming back asking for attention. I told I love him. I told I saw him. But really I just wanted to get back to what I was working on and focus on my work again.
David persisted. And as I thought about my goals as a father, I thought about how one of my goals is for my children to know that I love them—that they are important to me. I want to spend time with them. And I began to think about the day I may not be able to hold him. I may not be able to hug him. So, I stopped. I stopped trying to figure out what my life is about and decided to live into the life I have. I stopped writing what I want to be and decided to be that person. At least in that one moment. I picked him up and held him. Nothing important got done. But we did the most important thing.
When have you almost missed the most important thing?
You are living the life God has called you to live. I’m glad you realized it, so many of I don’t always see what is right in front of us.
“Nothing important got done.” If you ask David, he may disagree.
Yeah. First Things First. Well done Prince Steven.
That is so true and so well written. Thanks Steve!
“And I began to think about the day I may not be able to hold him. I may not be able to hug him.”
A good reminder for all of us. How long will we be around or how long will they be around…. they grow up too soon. Thanks for sharing.
Every once in a while, when my son is really loud, or acting up a little, or the dog is bumping me with his cold, wet nose and keeping me from getting done “what I really need to do” I realize that some day, all too soon, my house is going to be very quiet and there may not be a cold, wet nose wanting me…and it makes me realize how blessed I am for the interruptions. What I “really need to do” is hug my boy and toss the ball and enjoy every single second.
I find it very difficult to interrupt what I am doing to attend to someone else’s needs. People’s problems never seem to happen at a convenient time for me. Kudos to you for putting aside the important for the meaningful.
Awww love this. I’m so guilty of this. U said it great. I gotta work on this.