Urgent vs Important

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow?  Your life is like the morning fog - it's here a little while, then it's gone.

James 4:14

I was reading a devotion this morning and I was struck by this phrase: "Don't let the urgent override the important".  I began to think on my life and the times that I often put things off because something "better" comes up, or something "urgent" presents itself right in the middle of an important    moment.  I am especially guilty of this in my marriage.  So often my kids will take first place over my husband and I tend to their needs.  Even though what is needed may be urgent like throw up all over the floor, help with homework put off 'til the last minute, or a "mom I need this now", I will often choose to put off the important (time with my husband) to deal with the urgent (my kids' "crisis").  I am wrong to do this, to assume that tomorrow will come, that I will get this moment with my husband again.    

This doesn't only happen in marriages but is evident in our spiritual, professional, social, and family lives, as well.  We take for granted, tomorrow.  We put off the important things to deal with the new things that get in our way.  I am not saying that taking care of the urgent is always a bad thing......there are many urgent things that trump the important because they are important, and we all know what those things are.  If we each looked at our lives with an honest heart, and we asked God to show us those areas, we could all identify with this problem and we would know exactly where we are guilty of putting off the important.  For example, do you put off a family vacation because work is busy and you can do it when things slow down, do you put off your quiet time with God because you are busy now, but there will be time later in the day (if you're like me that time will never come), do you put off writing or calling a friend because you have something else to tend to and you can always talk to her tomorrow, do you put off intimate evenings or dates with your husband because your too tired, or maybe you are waiting 'til your kids move out.........the list can go on and on.  I have yet to grasp this whole concept in my own life and in no way want to condemn any of you reading this, I just can't keep this thought to myself and wanted to share and give you an opportunity to digest it and think it over in your own lives.        

Dear God, I am not promised tomorrow.  Help me to see where I am guilty of putting off the important for the urgent.  Show me how I can improve in this area and give me boldness to make the important a priority.   Amen