A Higher Priority

At the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924, the favored team in the four-man canoe race was the United States team. One member of that team was a young man by the name of Bill Havens. As the time for the Olympics neared, it became clear that Bill's wife would give birth to her first child about the time that Bill was scheduled to compete. 
So Bill found himself in a dilemma. Should he go to Paris and risk not being at his wife's side when their first child was born?  Or should he withdraw from the team 
and remain behind?

Bill's wife insisted that he go to Paris. After all, he had been working toward this goal for many years; it would be the culmination of a life-long dream. After much soul searching, Bill decided to withdraw from the competition and remain behind with his wife so that he could be with her when their first child arrived. Bill considered being 
at her side a higher priority than going to Paris to try to win an Olympic Gold medal.

The United States four-man canoe team won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.  But Bill had no regrets.  His family was more important to him than the Olympics.  
Bill was present when his wife gave birth to their baby boy whom they named Frank.

Twenty-eight years later, in 1952, Bill received a cablegram from Frank. It was sent from Helsinki, Finland, where the 1952 Olympics were being held. The cablegram read:

Dear Dad,

Thanks for waiting around for me to be born in 1924.  I’m coming home with the gold medal you should have won.

Your loving son,
Frank

Frank Havens was bringing home the Olympic gold medal for the 10,000-meter canoeing event.  Now he wanted to share his medal with the one who set aside his own personal dreams for a higher priority: his son. *

Establishing proper priorities ultimately brings the greatest rewards – like no regrets and deeper joys.

What are those “higher priorities” that need to be established in OUR lives?  Jesus said, "’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'” (Matthew 22:37-39).

Loving God supremely and loving others unselfishly – beginning with your family!  These are the top priorities!  And living by these priorities brings the greater blessings.

Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).  Love for God will motivate us to submit our lives to Him: believing in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Christ (Romans 10:9-10), being baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38).  Love for God will also motivate us to continue to follow His will which includes loving others (1 John 4:20).

Are YOUR priorities in order?

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

* Adapted from Steve Goodier

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