In the midst of a crazy week that is full of so much work related jobs, tasks and opportunities, I am fighting a battle that I have lost before.  One of the ways that I have struggled in our marriage so far is by working too much.  While working for a church it is very easy to get into the mindset that the work is for God and that it is more important.  Of course I would never agree that my job is more important than my family, but as they say, actions speak louder than words.

For me it isn’t staying out too late or being gone on work trips.  It was much more subtle to me.  I didn’t realize it.  Some of it I wasn’t even seeing as work.  It was just answering emails or playing with graphics or listening to a song on repeat on my iPod.  Yes, occasionally I would bring some more major work home, but it was when that became a regular occurrence.  It was when I would try to perfect something I was working on instead of spending time with my family.  I didn’t realize it, but I was only giving them my emotional, mental and physical scraps.  I was spending so much time thinking and worrying about my work tasks that my brain was consumed with these thoughts and my focus was lacking in the areas it needed to be focused on.

So changes had to be made.  I had to become more efficient with my time in the office so I didn’t have much to bring home.  I had to learn to prioritize my tasks and be ok with not being able to complete everything by the end of that week.  I had to learn to say no to things so that I could say yes to the more important things.  Yes, there are times that we have to get things done and my amazing wife has been great in supporting me when those times come up.

This week is another battle for me.  Fortunately losing the battle doesn’t always mean that the war is lost!  We lose the war when we choose not to fight anymore.  Fight for your family today.  Let your actions be the words that they need to hear.  Tell them you love them and are fighting for them and they will always be more important than work!

Over the past couple weeks or so I have posted a few different times about the move that was about to happen.  If you are a regular here at brookjames.com you have probably noticed that I haven’t written much in the past couple weeks.  Well, the move has happened…and is still happening.  Our church has gone from a permanent building to a portable church with setup and teardown every week.  We have changed cities (or towns…I’m not really sure what exactly the qualifications are for a city as opposed to a town).  Goodbye 45 Tesla.  Hello 27111 Aliso Creek Rd.  Goodbye Irvine.  Hello Aliso Viejo.

In preparation for the move and our first Sunday in the new location, my time and energy has been used elsewhere.  Unfortunately when all your time and energy is going in one direction, other things get neglected.  The blog was first up.  It wasn’t that I didn’t want to write.  It isn’t that I have had writer’s block and didn’t know what to say.  Priorities just had to be switched up for a bit.  But the other thing that got neglected was family life.

Now, up front let me tell you that I am a firm believer in sacrificing other things in order to spend time with the family.  This was just one of those weeks that things absolutely HAVE to get done.  You know when push comes to shove and if you don’t take the time to do it now, it will not happen and many things will suffer.  My time with my wife got cut into tiny pieces spaced out between packing, moving, websiting, “babysitting”, and many many other things.  I haven’t enjoyed that part if this.  I believe I did what I was supposed to, but I am definitely looking forward to making up for the past couple weeks with the wifey.

I am excited about the all new Kingsfield Church that is taking off, but I am also excited to have the past couple weeks completed so that I can turn my family life focus back to where it is supposed to be.  KK, get ready because I am gonna make up the past couple weeks to you.  Yes, even if that means I have get to suffer watch some girly movies.  Just don’t get mad when I laugh at the end instead of cry!