Like clouds and wind without rain

is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give.

—Proverbs 25:14

Business App

Deliver on your promises. If you can’t deliver, develop the discipline to avoid promises you can’t keep.

Food for Thought

The pursuit of a career over everything else makes liars of all working parents. I can’t tell you how many times I promised my young sons that I would be home for a special event, or to play ball, or to watch a show that had significant meaning to them. I didn’t set out to lie to them, but every time it seemed, a crisis would develop just as I was planning to walk out the door and I would have to stay to make sure everything worked out all right for my company. Are you familiar with this scenario? If you are, then you know what it’s like to look into the doubtful eyes of a child who doesn’t trust what you say. I can’t think of any wound that stings more than that.

You can rationalize it out; convince yourself that you’re the primary bread-winner, and that work comes first because that’s your number-one priority. Yeah, right. Quit fooling yourself. Jobs come, jobs go. Get the focus off of yourself — you ain’t all that. Your family is your number-one priority, end of discussion. Your job is to develop a relationship with your spouse and your children that will not be shaken by hard financial times or times where you do have to be away from the family on business. Adjust your priorities and you won’t have to worry about how much you’re working or making promises you can’t keep.

Next Steps

1. Examine yourself: Are you guilty of making promises to your spouse or children that you did not keep? If so, ask for their forgiveness and make the commitment to them to never to harm them in this way again.
2. Examine your surroundings: Does your current job foster and facilitate a “family-first” attitude? If so, count your blessings. Adjust your attitude and your actions so that family comes first. If your job is not family friendly, pray for God to change things and put your resume together.
3. Examine your actions: Do you act like your family is first? If not, make a list of actions you can take this week to make it happen. Remember that your family is your most valuable customer. Treat them that way.