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Priorities
I find it interesting when people say they’ve always known they would adopt. It wasn’t that I was against adopting, it just wasn’t on my radar for quite a while. Our first adoption, literally came out of the blue. A baby was abandoned and left to die in the hospital, my husband fell in love, and boom we have a baby. Granted not many people were signing up to take a child who was left to die and had a 50/50 chance of survival, but still she was a gift from God.
When we decided that God was calling us to adopt from China, we set out to adopt children that others might not readily adopt. It was our choice. Yet, I have had more than one person say if they were dealt my cards, they would go out in the back yard and burn them. I chose most of my cards so that comment really threw me for a loop. One of my friends wrote the other day about wishing she had comments for those really odd comments that take you by surprise. I’ve practiced for the usual ones. Like when people say I’m a saint, which is so funny. I know that they say it because they want me to be “more than” because it let’s them off the hook, but the truth is I am not “more than”. I’m a normal (well, most days), average, every day mama. Sorry! It’s the truth.
My practiced comment now leads back to being obedient to where God is leading. I’m obedient. I choose to “do something”. It is nothing more than that. I’m still afraid. I still make mistakes. I still don’t get it all done, but I choose to give up certain time wasting things because I don’t have time to waste. I get up early or stay up late to write because I feel that it is important. I am very, very busy most days. I have chosen to give myself a break and not think I can do it all (if you see my playrooms you will understand) . I take care of my children and show them love in as many ways as possible. I encourage friends when I can. I make sure my husband and I stay connected and communicating. I get up early to do my Bible studies before I head to workout (my me time). I workout while everyone else is asleep. I make certain things a priority and all the other stuff has to take a backseat. Those are my choices. I make conscience choices now instead of just letting my days pass. I have chosen to make my family a priority. I have chosen to make helping orphans a priority. I have made the choice to let go of the usual American retirement. I don’t want to golf. I don’t want to take fancy trips. I don’t want to garden. I don’t want to spend the last 20 years of my life trying to fill my time. I want to wear this body out. I want to give so much love that I don’t think I can give any more. I want to help as many children as I can. I want to spread the word and get as many children as I can adopted.
Every day we make choices. Every single day we get to choose what becomes the most important thing in our lives. It’s not that I don’t ever watch t.v. with my family. I do but I choose what I watch and on what days. I never sit down and lose hours mindlessly watching t.v. I don’t get magazines any more because I never take the time to read them. I chose very specific things to baby myself with – a bath, a book, getting a pedicure. If I need a break, I take one.
I think this story portrays priorities wonderfully.
A professor of philosophy stood before his class with some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks about two inches in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was full.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly and watched as the pebbles rolled into the open areas between the rocks. The professor then asked the students again if the jar was full.
They chuckled and agreed that it was indeed full this time.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. The sand filled the remaining open areas of the jar. “Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar signifies your life. The rocks are the truly important things, such as family, health and relationships. If all else was lost and only the rocks remained, your life would still be meaningful. The pebbles are the other things that matter in your life, such as work or school. The sand signifies the remaining “small stuff” and material possessions.
If you put sand into the jar first, there is no room for the rocks or the pebbles. The same can be applied to your lives. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are truly important.
We all make choices. Every day we choose. We choose what is important. We choose what we value. We choose where our time and our money will go. I used to think that my children’s educations were the most important thing. I used to take great pleasure in being able to tell people how bright Zach and Cassie are. But I now know that is NOT the most important thing. Being educated is important, but following God’s path for your life is more important. Being kind, considerate, God-fearing, and emphatic are more important than being book smart. Having a good, solid foundation in biblical principles is much more important that being on the dean’s list or going to a private college with a big name. I would rather spend my time saving a child’s life than worrying about the fame and fortune my child will one day have. As I said before, this is my choice. Others might disagree and that is okay. That is your choice.
I love my life. I am beyond excited that soon I will have 3 more daughters. I’m overwhelmed with the blessings of having so many little ones in my house. If I had a full time job and if Dan didn’t work from home, this wouldn’t be possible. If Zach, Cassie, Hope and Grace, weren’t all on board this wouldn’t be possible. If my mom and Dan’s mom didn’t want to help, this wouldn’t be possible. But it is possible. It’s possible because God set up my life to perfectly be able to handle taking in these children at this time. God has lead me to a path I didn’t believe was possible and I am overwhelmingly blessed each and every day for these opportunities.
Everyone has the choice. Every single day you have the choice to be happy or sad. You have the choice to be giving or selfish. Every day you have the choice to be obedient to God or ignore His calling. Everyone has the choice. If you decide to not make a choice, you are still, by default, making a choice. Make your choices matter. Make your life matter. Anything is possible one day at a time, one child at a time, one prayer at a time.
