Stay Focused!

I did something the other day that I never should have done.  I took my eyes of the road for one second…well maybe more than one (to grab my purse which had fallen off my seat)…and I ran my car up the side-walk and hit a tree.  The good news is I was uninjured, as evident by the fact that I am able to form words on a page!  My car was not so fortunate, and neither was that poor tree (my apologies to tree huggers everywhere).


Obviously, taking your eyes off the road and your mind off of what is truly important at the moment can put you and others in danger.  The same can be said of your marriage and family.  Quite often we unintentionally allow the daily distractions of life to take up our time and energy, when in fact, our time and energy should be focused on our most important relationships. 
 

When I think about the times that I have been testy and argumentative towards my spouse, I have found that my poor attitude typically follows a prolonged period of busyness.  If my husband and I neglect to connect with one another on a regular basis, we become un-balanced and unfocused.  Sooner or later, one or both of us is bound to lose control of our emotions and crash.

Most couples today are far too busy; in fact, our very culture esteems busy people.  It can become a badge of honor to work long hours; serve in several ministries; or have your kids involved in multiple sports.  Our weekends and evenings are no longer a time to rest and reconnect; instead we tend to fill up every waking moment.  It’s so easy to become distracted by everything on our plate that we lose focus of our priorities.

My husband and I are no different.  Though we are now empty-nesters, we have a full and busy life serving at our church and playing with our grandchildren.  Please don’t get me wrong…it‘s all good stuff.  It is important to be an involved parent and to serve your neighbor. We just need to purpose to slow down and keep it all in balance.

 If you spend less and less time invested in your marriage because of life’s demands and distractions, you may need to examine where you are over-extended and make the necessary changes to re-prioritize your relationship.  You may also need to consider if you are simply avoiding time with your spouse, due to unresolved issues.  If so, I recommend that you have an honest dialog with your spouse to clear the air.  Sometimes, a qualified life coach, or counselor can help a couple to repair unresolved issues, so don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance.  The Marriage Resource (themarriageresource.org) exists to help marriages that are floundering- to flourish, so take advantage of what is available to you.

If you are like me, your spiritual growth could benefit from some quality time spent reading the Word of God.  For the Christian marriage, this is all important.  I truly believe a marriage without God at the center, is a marriage without focus.  My advice:  Keep your eyes on Jesus, your marriage, and the road.  You will be blessed, and… you probably won’t run into any trees!

 

“So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything that God has for us.”    Philippians 3:15