Pockets

The journey I underwent with breast cancer a few years ago was not something I would have chosen. But as many people who have experienced serious illness find, the challenges I faced in connection with my illness helped me to rearrange some of my priorities.

My bout with cancer slowed me down long enough for me to give serious thought to what is important. Our world inundates us with so much information about how to live better, healthier, happier, fuller, more successful lives that the information flow–or overflow–is distracting at best and downright overwhelming sometimes. We’re tempted to rush from one thing to another, often without much reflection.

For young people, who are just beginning to clarify their values and set their own priorities, the world must be even more confusing with so many forms of media, peers, school, all telling them what’s important and what it takes to be popular. They need the help of loving adults to sort out what’s important.

I certainly don’t have all the answers, but I’m happy to share some of the things our family has done that have heaped me to reprioritize.

 

Back to Basics

We are all so busy with the stuff of life that it’s easy to lose sight of what is most important, but I think we can simplify the process a great deal by returning to the basic priorities: faith and family. Our family began sharing a 15-minute devotional period each morning before our two granddaughters left for school. We take turns reading a devotional, praying a short prayer, and ending with our own version of a group hug–which all of the family dogs wanted to join in, too.

Then at the end of the day, we review our day together and end with a prayer. In this way, the entire day is bracketed by prayer, and we’re relaying the message to our granddaughters that we keep God first in our lives throughout the day.

 

The Great Commandment

Giving God top priority in our lives helps us keep things in the proper perspective. Making choices and wiser decisions and loving others as ourselves just seem to follow naturally after that. Beginning my day with God always ensures that I’ll have the time and energy to do everything else that needs to be done.

 

A Simple Symbol

Wearing a Christian symbol–a cross, a dove, a WWJD bracelet–can serve as a reminder to pray for someone who is hurting, to not retaliate when provoked, and to keep God first in all we do. Our granddaughters often related wonderful stories about how just glancing at their bracelets helped them remember their priorities–and act accordingly.

 

The Secret of a Full Calendar

Like many people, I find that if I’m not careful other people will decide how I use my time. So I fill in my calendar with things that are important to me (my morning devotional time, my choir practice, my Sunday school classes, our family outings and celebrations, etc.) before I take on other commitments. I also try to set my priorities with prayer as much as possible, using God’s agenda and the things that I feel matter to God. When I sometimes still begin to over-schedule myself (old habits are hard to break!) I reassess my activities according to God’s priorities. I also ask myself how important that particular activity will seem a year from not, five years from now, etc.

 

A Graphic Reminder

A friend has on a ledge above her kitchen sink a small jar filled with a walnut surrounded by grains of rice. The label reads: The walnut in this jar represents the time we spend with God. The rice represents the time we spend doing other things. If you pour the rice into the jar first and then try to insert the walnut, the walnut will not fit. if you put the walnut in first, the, pour the rice around it, there is a perfect fit.

I think that just about sums up everything in a nutshell, so to speak. If we keep God first in our lives and help the children we love to do the same, then everything else will fall into place.

 

Sandra Humphrey is a retired clinical psychologist and an author. Several of her stories have been featured in Pockets.