A few weeks back I wrote about “Why I’m working on putting my family first.” I promised to continue this discussion, and I received lots of comments regarding this post through various mediums. It struck a chord.
Let me back up to the reason I wrote the blog in the first place: I was struggling with my natural tendency toward serving outwardly (not in my home) more often than in my inner sanctum.
This hit me profoundly one day a few weeks ago when I was making dessert for our marriage class small group. I had to make something with ingredients on hand, so I began a cut-out cookie adventure at 7:15 a.m. that day. (I’m not an early riser!) By the time I had mixed, rolled, cut out, decorated and tended to each heart shape cookie with more time and “love” than I necessarily had to give that day, I was into this extravaganza for 3+ hours. Maybe a pan of brownies would have been easier????
But what happened somewhere during the 4th rolling of the dough and the end of the whole matter was the realization that I was working so hard to create beautiful treasures for someone else, and hadn’t even thought about my own little treasures…my kids!
Thankfully, I had the presence of mind to cut out 3 large heart cookies before the dough was all gone. 
Then I decorated them specially for each of my children. And somehow, God multiplied my time and I wrote each of them a love letter telling them what I appreciated about them.
When they each got home from school their note and cookie were waiting on the counter…AND I had a beautiful tray of heart cookies to share with my small group that night.
This may seem elementary to you, or even second nature, to think first of your kids…but what I have been taking to heart is that I have to be conscious of my time, talent, energy, passions and resources. And I have to be certain that I’m using them in my home – while I have these little people (not really, they are 15, 12, 10) in my home!
For one day, at least, I had a small, shining example of success giving my more of my firstfruits to my family.
Has this conversation compelled you to see your family differently? Any successes you’d like to share? We’d love to hear them in the comments below.