Agent Mom

Today I sat in a room with a group of men bragging about their blog rankings. Honestly, if I didn’t have to pick up a pack of diapers, take my daughter to the doctor with another ear infection, interview babysitters, and finish a marketing plan for a client presentation, I would just love to worry about where my little journal ranks amongst the estimated 10 million others.

In fact there are many things I would love to worry about – how to drop a few pounds, world peace, and finishing a well-intentioned baby scrapbook for my daughter who just turned five. But I often seem caught in this cycle of worrying about survival. Making sure my kids are fed dinner somehow makes it to the top of my priority list every night!

Earlier this week I had lunch with a new friend who is my age and admitted that she wasn’t sure she really wanted to have children. She loves her career and isn’t sure that she wants kids. I respect that decision as much as I respect all my great friends who work (so hard!) at home every single day.

The truth is – regardless of our choices on children and working, we all must make choices that reflect our priorities. When I put my computer down to play a board game with my daughter, it reflects my priorities. When I spent a little extra time putting finishing touches on a client project, it reflects my priorities. When I push aside the tax report pile on my desk to take a call from a friend in crisis, it reflects my priorities. And while I want to be everything to everybody, I can’t. There are days that simply meeting the survival needs of my family is a major accomplishment.

Don’t get me wrong – I love technology and am fascinated by the way social media continues to change the way we communicate. There are many opportunities to reach people with whom we might otherwise never come in contact.

But as long as I know where my priorities lie, I will never have to feel like a lesser human because my blog ranks lower than yours.

I’ve often heard the advice that we should live “in the moment.” Great concept, in theory. Applying it is another matter.

This past weekend I was on a business trip. I left on Saturday morning to a disappointed 5-year-old saying “But mommy, Saturday is a NOBODY work day!” I finally got myself to the airport under a huge cloud of guilt, and 5 hours later, I landed in Connecticut. We spent 2 solid days completing a video shoot for an upcoming project. It went great and at the end of the last day, I was so ready to get on a plane and return to my family.

Exhausted, I climbed on a packed flight and found myself in the center seat, though it really didn’t matter. I had my sights fixed on Nashville. A man sat down next to me and I tried my best to smile politely and then bury my nose in the fascinating US Air magazine. The last thing I needed was a chatty plane-mate. Unfortunately, he started right in to the regular plane chit chat. “Are you coming or going?”… “What were you doing in Connecticut?”…and on and on. I gave short answers but nothing worked. Finally, I gave up and entered the conversation.

For the next 90 minutes, I found out that this man was recently divorced and recently lost his job. He was in Nashville for a new job opportunity, though he was crushed that it would mean leaving his son behind with his ex-wife. I was able to share my testimony with him and how Christ has been my constant source of strength and peace in rough times. He listened intently.

That flight was “living in the moment.” My plans for were for quiet and quick flight home, but God had other plans. I pray that I always remain open to the moments that He wants to use me to touch someone in need. It won’t always be convenient. And it certainly won’t fit into my neat and orderly Outlook calendar. But I know that nothing on that calendar is as important as the opportunity to make an eternal difference.