Day 9 - Heart of the Matter

If I had to make a list of what matters most in my life it would go as follows

1. God
2. My Husband
3. My Children
4. Hurting people
5. Great friends

I'm not sure I always live this way. Some say look at your checkbook for your priorities (especially if they want you to tithe LOL), if we did that for me it'd look like this: Southwind, debts and bills. No family, no friends. And if we look at how I spend my time the priorities in my life would look something like this:

• Keeping up the house
• time with children (either they're cleaning, doing homework or watching tv)
• time with husband (watching tv or doing chores)
• television

Either way my friends and family get the raw end of the deal. God and hurting people barely make the list except to say that I support Southwind Community Church.

BUT NO MORE

I will change my patterns. People do mean something to me, family does mean a lot to me. Good friends are hard to come by and harder yet to keep. My value system will change.

From now on the housework will still be done but not with all my energy. I will schedule time to be with hurting people. I will engage my children with eye contact and conversation. I will call or write to my friends. My husband will have time with me, just me - no kids - and we will have meaningful conversation.

People have a value to me.
What is a person worth to you?


The "Make it last for life" questions today are poignant and I hope you do some of them as I share them with you.
1. Make a list of the people you would want to see and to share your heart with if you knew your time on earth was limited to one more month. What specific steps could you take to connect with one of them and share your heart? It could be as simple as making a date with your spouse or planning a reunion with a close friend.

2. Choose someone you know you have hurt by your words, actions, or silence. Write a letter asking this person's forgiveness and explaining everything you'd like to say before it's too late. Set the letter aside for a few days, and then reread it and decide if you should send it.

3. Think through your schedule for the next day or two. No matter how busy you may be, find a time to surprise someone you Love. Take a friend to a favorite restaurant. pick up the kids early from school and go to the park. Kidnap your spouse from the office and go out for coffee. Find a way to add quality connections to your life on a daily basis.