I read this recently from the Storyline blog.

Don’t let urgency keep you from your spouse, your kids, creation or the God who made them all. You may find, like me, you get more done when your soul is fed first.

– Donald Miller

Life has been busier than normal for us. I’ve slumped into survival mode: I place as priority all things “urgent,” and everything else falls into second place. In other words: Anything that doesn’t threaten to blow up in my face if I don’t resolve it now, well…takes second place.

Things that are labelled “urgent” have this ability to force themselves upon you, and make you wriggle from the priorities that you have set for your life. To me, there are only a few things in life that are truly urgent. Family and children comprise the foremost of these. (It is pretty obvious, right? I am a mummy blogger, after all.)

Why would family be urgent? There are no deadlines to meet, no clock is ticking (except your biological one, and even then that’s only if you’re planning to have more kids).

Family is urgent, because in this day and age, many other things have usurped its position in society. Wealth, career, fame, beauty, you name it. (Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying these are necessarily bad in themselves, but when they take first place in our hearts, then well, something’s gotta give.)

Family is urgent, because it becomes increasingly hard difficult to keep up with things. In my family — or any family, for that matter — it will always been a challenge to keep it together. And — let’s face it — it’s only going to get harder.

Family is urgent, because if it drops to the low priority list, the fabric of any given culture is prone to breaking down. This results in greater costs to society, in the form of higher crime rates, mental illness, suicide and other what-have-yous.

Family is urgent, because our kids grow up in a flash. Without us being present with them in their formative years, things are going to get tough when they become full blown teenagers.

Lastly, family is urgent, because I they are naturally on the top of mind concerning everything — everything I do, say, and make important decisions about. I just love that I’m able to be there for my family, for “first times” and all the rest of it, despite whatever constraints that we may face. My hubby is “urgent”, my kids are “urgent”,  simply because I love them. Period.

What’s urgent in your life? What’s important? Share with me, how do you prioritise the things that fight for your attention?

P.S. Even as I write this, there are a number of work-related matters on my mind jostling for my attention. But I’ve decided this post is important because it stands as a reminder to myself too – to keep my family and my heart first. The rest can wait. Well…we try.

This is an original World Moms Blog post by June Yong in Singapore.  June is passionate about family, writing, faith, and good old-fashioned love. She blogs at mamawearpapashirt, and can be found on Twitter, and on Facebook.

The photo used in this post is credited to http://www.flickr.com/photos/50715604@N07/4660619662/ It is licensed under Creative Commons.


Mamawearpapashirt (Singapore)

June, born and bred on the sunny and sometimes rainy shores of Singapore, is a mother of two - a chatty 4 y.o. girl and a toddler boy who babbles. She works part-time as a communication consultant, and she is deeply passionate about family, writing, faith, and good old-fashioned love. She can be found on her blog, Mamawearpapashirt.

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