Priority #1: Family

When I became a stay-at-home mom I knew that "family" would be my priority. That is, after all, why I stay at home. I easily recognized that my kids and my husband were my primary focus and I firmly believe that they are my most important investment. As we've been studying Ruth I've been reminded of the agrarian cycle of sowing and reaping. There are times for both and both are necessary. At this point in family life I think we are primarily sowing, especially into the lives of our kids, but I have to admit that there is a lot of simultaneous reaping.

What I did not fully realize five years ago was that extended family would also be a significant priority undre the header of "Family." Number "1 b)", if you will. These are the relationships that get neglected when life is crowded with work and sports and church and clubs and busyness. Grandparents, in-laws, cousins, siblings, aunts and uncles and all the "greats". Honestly, these are the relationships that easily get neglected in my life too.

We are blessed to have the majority of our family near-by. We don't see all of them equally, but we've tried to establish some routines to make sure we touch base with our family regularly. It certainly requires an effort, but we reap many benefits from those extended family members, as I believe they do from us too.

My mom makes the drive to visit once a month. Always including a few meals together, maybe a birthday celebration or a trip to the park.

Once a week the boys spend a half-a-day or so with Grandma and Grandpa. And my sister's kids even join in the fun occasionally. Here Grandpa is overseeing the pancake making with four able helpers.
The benefit is that Calvin and Andrew love their Grandpa. And I have some pretty capable breakfast chefs.

Uncle Ted had to endure our family for over 4 months while we lived at his house when our house was getting an addition. But look at those matchy-matchy boys. Andrew loves Uncle Ted.

We also try to visit my Grandma monthly. It requires a drive to another town, but it's only 1 hour and 20 minutes door-to-door. As a kid it always seemed far, but as an adult, I think the drive is well worth it. Don't you think so?

Sowing and reaping. Investing. Prioritizing. Whatever you call it, I have discovered that it is something good that I know I should do.

Isaiah 58: 6-7

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice

and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free

and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry

and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—

when you see the naked, to clothe them,

and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Have you found that the process of sowing and reaping/prioritizing includes you extended family as well?