Knocked Out and Let Down.

     What a perfect first week of school. My kids are precious. They are funny. They are hard workers. They are motivated to learn. They have been kind!

     We have a new team of teachers. It's a new school year. It's a clean classroom. I have hit this week-full fledge head on.

    Come Thursday night, after a Mexican dinner with MB, those refried beans were not feeling too good on my stomach. At 1:30 Friday morning, I was jolted out of the bed to the bathroom for the next hour. Talk about jump starting a diet! (lost 2 pounds!!)

    Food poisoning.

    Are you serious? Food poisoning the first week of school? This is not happening. I ended up having to call in a sub because I just could not take any chances. I didn't want to get any of my kids sick and I didn't want to wear my body down more than it already was. I felt horrible. Not just horrible from the food poisoning but horrible for not being there the first Friday of the school year. I felt like I let my kids down. This resulted in me sleeping most of Friday away and staying in Friday night...like a loser.

   Later on that day, my good friend CPR from NC called to check up on me and to catch up. We were talking about friendships and how difficult it can be to stay in touch with a friend, especially when they are a good distance away. Just like with CPR, when I was spending almost every weekend in NC, we were together on the weekends almost (if not more) than I was with "the boy." Then, when I was no longer spending time in NC, I don't see her as much as I would like. For example, yesterday, she made the comment, "The new Longhorns opened but (her husband) is playing golf, and I have no one else to go with. But if you were here..." And I would have been at the Longhorn in a heartbeat if I could just so I could spend some one-on-one time with CPR again.

     But, it takes great effort on both parts to build a friendship and keep it in motion. Distance or no distance. And when we feel like a friend isn't making any effort in keeping the friendship going, we feel let down. I know this is a weakness of mine. I get so caught up in making sure that I hang out with this friend, and knowing I have another event to be at, and then I have to go to dinner with this group...I neglect some of the most precious friends and friendships. But how wonderful is it to have friends that offer grace and understand when things get hectic, you get out of place.

    I think it does come down to priorities. On Earth, who are your number one priorities? Or what are some of your top priorities? Family? Your job? Your friends? Your spouse? Your kids? Church? Where does it start? And where does it end? Obviously, your top priority should be your relationship with Christ. Where does that stand in comparison to everything else? I know for me, personally, it hasn't always been my top priority until the last year when I was knocked down and felt like the wind was knocked out of me. That was God's way of saying, "Boo-yah! Knocked you down. Now, get up and let me help you." My quiet moments early in the morning or late at night on my porch have become some of the most awakening moments of my life. Lately I have not been feeling the best about myself and my body. Last Sunday, I woke up at 7:30, wide awake. What in the world? I debated on going back to sleep or getting up. Something told me to get up, go to the porch, and just read--that there was something He wanted to show me. So I did just that and would you know, my whole quiet time was about being a Lady of Virtue. God knew what I needed. I could have easily rolled over and ignored God, but I knew He was priority. And if I didn't continue to keep him as my priority, then I was going to miss out on a blessing and a word that I was so desperately needing to hear.

    But, where do family and friends and work fall into that? Well, my priorities are obviously going to be slightly different than others. For me, I have no husband to come home to-- just my little Jozier. But your family has to come first. Then your friends and work. Sometimes your friends are your family. My single momma friend CL has a freshman daughter in high school. And I never seen someone sacrifice and work so hard to make her daughter a priority, give her what she needs and wants, and raise her to be the young woman she is today. Recently, they took a trip to the beach right before school started and CL didn't take her work stuff with her. It was just time for her and her daughter. And she commented that it was one of the best getaways she had with her daughter in a very long time. Often times CL would have to put herself on the back burner but as a mom, she knew what she needed and had to do. But, I have seen blessings come out of CL because of her sacrifice and honor her daughter-- and it's not the end, either. Kudos to you, CL, kudos!

    With the school year starting, sports and tournaments coming up, and the craziness that can comes with each new week, month, and year-- remember your priorities. Who are you spending time with? Are you making promises and keeping them? Are you equally setting time aside for Him, your family, and friends? Don't be the friend that let's others down. But, remain strong so you don't get knocked out.I know there are some areas I need to work on--some friends I need to do better at keeping in touch with--some family I need to spend more time with--and others that I need cut back time.