Gain the World but Lose your Soul

I had a serious slap in the face moment today.I mean like a life changing kick in the gut heart wrenching moment.

What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet lose their soul?  - Matthew 16:26

This verse has been playing over, and over, and over, and over again in my mind since about 3:30pm this afternoon. So, I've learned a lesson the hard way and I'm going to share it with you so, hopefully, you can learn it the easy way.My husband and I are pastors with The Salvation Army. Here at The Salvation Army we are all about Christmas. I mean ALL about Christmas. Like, we start planning for Christmas in the summer and finish Christmas in January type of all about Christmas. Obviously, Christmas is a big deal in any church because we celebrate the birth of Christ and the fact that God is now with us however Christmas in The Salvation Army also means Christmas Kettles - our biggest and probably most important fundraiser of the year. In about 5 short weeks we will bring in well over half of our operating budget for the entire year. SO there is a little bit of pressure to get everything right, to preform, to stay on top of things and to really be on our game.This was all fine and dandy pre kids- I mean we work together as husband and wife so we had time together even when we were crazy busy but when you throw two babies in the midst one feels really pulled and the mom guilt is at an all time high. As pastors you are called on at any and all times for any and all circumstances, the good, bad and ugly. But during Christmas we are pretty much on the go all the time and dragging these babies with us.Now PLEASE don't get me wrong because I am not looking for sympathy or "wow your amazing" comments (however feel free really). I'm literally trying to give a little back story to the life that I was called to, that I love and that I get to experience with my kids which is just an amazing blessing. As my husband and I say a lot (and stole from our favourite band Rend Collective) "As Family We Go".  We wouldn't have it any other way.So, back to the slap in the face. Today I was feeling great. I was staying on top of everything, the season was off to a good start, I was kicking butt and taking names and managing to keep my 5 month old semi happy. But then I went to pick up our two year old, Maverick, today at daycare and was approached by one of his teachers about his recent behaviour. Maverick is a boys boy, he's rough, he loves adventure and playing and being a stereotypically boy. This is one of my favourite things about him but is also the thing that we knew was going to get him in trouble. Well that day had arrived.We knew he was being a little aggressive recently but were talking to him about it and making a priority to be on top of things and were not too concerned about it. But as his teacher told me today about how aggressive he was really getting and how the other kids in his class were not wanting to play with him and literally naming him by name as the one who is hurting them I felt my eyes burn, my heart drop and my mind get so defensive as I looked down at my perfect, loving and energetic two year old who is my world.Cry Break.I heard what his teacher said, I really did, and as I slowly became less defensive and lost the "every kid goes through this" attitude and focused on the fact that I don't care if every kid goes through this, this is my kid and I will move mountains to make him the best possible human I can.As I drove home with this precious child in the back seat I was racking my brain on what I've done wrong as a parent to have a child that is being a bit of a bully and the answer was as clear as his beautiful blue eyes. What good is it to gain the whole world (work) but lose your soul (family). Now, I know this is probably taken out of context but right now its completely and perfectly in context for my life.This is not a "woe is me" moment this is a honest look at my life, what has been going on in my house and how that has reflected on my two year old. Currently my supper table is filled with laptops and kettle paperwork and not family meals. My calendar is filled with work "to dos" and kettle schedules and no family days or Maverick activities. My phone is always on and in my hand because kettles is a 12 hours a day sort of thing. Most importantly my patience level is non existent, especially with Maverick.Tonight that changes.Tonight my priorities go back to the way they should be. Maverick will get 100% of my attention when he is with me and home and I will teach him about love, about using your words, about how to be the perfect and amazing little boy he is. Tonight my world starts revolving around my family again and nothing else. My work will get done and we will rock this kettle season and raise enough money to continue to do the awesome work The Salvation Army does (even if we don't meet our goal God WILL and ALWAYS provides)BUT (and its a big one) my family, my soul, my heartbeat is worth way more then any work I do outside of the home.As Andy Stanley said SO perfectly; Your greatest contribution to the kingdom of God may not be something you do but SOMEONE you raise.Words to live by.So I hope Maverick is prepared for a whole lotta parenting, a whole lotta loving and a whole lotta learning. Learning that starts with me. Learning that starts with mommy showing him how amazing, special, important and loved he is Loved over work, over, material things, over my phone, and over my ability to reach (or not reach) our kettle goal.Is there a magic fix to his behaviour challenges? No. But I do know that I will see a change in him because there has been a change in me.Friends, lets start putting our families first, lets start bringing back the importance of family units, let's show the world what love is and lets be the absolute best parents to these mini humans who WILL be our greatest contributions to the Kingdom of God.I don't know about you but I know I'm raising a future world changer and cannot wait to see the amazing man he grows up to be!Daniel agrees.