Some thing's are more important than breakfast

The house was a mess, the kitchen was chaos, people were stressed, everyone was exhausted. And we were all hungry. As we were trying to get food on the table for the six people in my family tension was high. Breakfast is really important. But in the middle of all of that a few days ago, I paused. And I realized that some things mattered even more.

Ever been in a situation kind of like that? Where everyone wants something and they are stressed enough to argue over it? Sometimes we get hyped up over situations that aren't really a big deal. I mean, I know it is a big deal in the moment especially if it's as vital as breakfast, but some things are more important than breakfast. Stressful situations are difficult to deal with because emotions can cloud our judgement of an already complicated situation. In those difficult times we have to remember that some things are more important then whatever you are trying to get done at the moment. Some things are more important then the tournament you want to win. More important then the paper you're trying to write or the grade that you want to get. More important then the song you're trying to listen to or the game you want to play. And you all probably know that. Yet, when emotions are high and you want something badly that just seems so important, it's easy to forget those other things that should be important to us at all times. What are these things? Family. People. Relationships. Your integrity, honesty, and respectfulness. Love. Those things should never be sacrificed for anything, even breakfast.

So how do you keep focused on those things when it seems like the world is falling apart? Think of a cup full of water. If that cup is knocked over, what will come out of it? Water. If it's full of milk, water won't come out. In situations when you aren't stressed, you are filling up your cup with either good things or bad things. When you get shaken or upset, what is in the cup will come pouring out of you. If you prioritize the important things when it's easy, then you will still be able to focus on them in the stressful moments. Consistently but emphasis on the things that are really important so that in stressful situations you can see what matter most.

I've talked previously about stress and how getting through it makes us stronger, but today I just want to focus on our priorities. By prioritizing things that have an eternal significance rather then an earthly we can avoid some of the stress. One German writer, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, grasped the importance of priorities. He said, “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” In a world where thousands of distractions are constantly vying for our attention it is of upmost importance that we stay focused on what matters most. Namely, God and His commands. As I was mentally going back over that situation in the kitchen, it struck me that a similar thing had been recorded in the Bible. Luke 10:38-42 says, “A certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.’ And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her’”  Is serving important? Absolutely. But some things are more important, and that's the lesson Martha had to learn. When we prioritize Christ, we don't get frustrated if things aren't going our way. 

 Breakfast is always really important. It's possible to stress over it and get upset over those who stand in your way from getting it. But God's commands are even more important. The people around us are more valuable. Yes, some things are more important than breakfast.