What's Really Important

As many of you may have read on my Facebook page yesterday, I got called pathetic by a coworker for couponing. Well, this set off a flurry of comments and excitement that I totally didn't expect. And, after reading them all, I started thinking. What's really the big deal about this? All I could keep coming back to is, taking care of my family is important to me. Right now, that requires more (financial) sacrifice than it hopefully will in the future, and I'm willing to make that sacrifice. If you don't know, I'm the sole bread winner for my family right now. While pediatric fellows do make more than pediatric residents, we still don't make much money. Especially when you compare it to "real doctors" who are in practice and done with training. On top of the not-so-great salary, I have a husband and two children, one of whom has special needs. We have student loan bills, credit card bills (unfortunately), and medical bills just to name a few. I know you've all felt this way, but it seems like just as we start to make a dent in one of them, or maybe even get one paid off, here comes another one, bigger and badder than the one before. Anyway, back to the point of this post. I felt like it was important to reflect back on what's really important in my life, my priorities. So, here they are, in order:
1. God. He is and always will be the most important thing in my life. Yes, more important than my children or my husband. More important than my family or my job. To be a true follower of Christ, He has to be the most important thing in your life. Without Him, I am nothing, I can do nothing, and I have nothing. 
2. Jeremiah. Yes, my husband and my marriage is the #2 priority in my life, more important than my children. I may not always act like it, and it hurts me to say that. This is something I'm actually working on right now, to make my wonderful husband know how much I love him and that he is the #2 (#1 earthly) man in my life. Those of you who think it's crazy to have your marriage and husband above your children in your list of priorities need to read your Bible. This is a biblical thing!
3. Will and Cate. The cutest kids on the planet. Most of the time the sweetest kids too! Being a mother is one of the greatest gifts a woman can be given, and I cherish my children greatly. I will do whatever I have to (as long as it is ethically and morally sound and legal) to take care of them and provide for them. And yes, if this means couponing, well then show me the inserts and hand me a pair of scissors!
4. My family and friends. I mean my parents, siblings, nephew, etc. They are the world to me. Any of you who know me well, know this is true. I love my family. I talk to them daily, alright, multiple times a day, on the phone. I go home to my sweet home Alabama whenever it's possible. I crave the time I have with them and wish I had more. They are my support system, the walls that hold me up when all the crazy storms in my life start brewing. Love you guys!
5. My job. I love my job, and I feel it is God's calling for my life. But, that does not make it more important than my relationship with Him, my marriage, my children, my family, or my friends. I think the world has this one totally wrong, and it makes me sad. Yes, I do on occasion have to sacrifice time with my family for my job, but this is temporary, and I make every effort to never miss the big stuff. And, it goes back to my desire to provide for them. The long hours of residency are over (hooray!!!!!). And fellowship too will end (although the hours are awesome compared to residency!). My point is, a job is nice and necessary, but it does not provide what is truly important in life. A good job cannot provide you with eternal life, and that is what really matters. This life is temporary, but well, eternity is forever (duh).
I could go on and on down the list from here, but I think you catch my drift. I hope you'll take time to look at your priorities and make sure they're in the proper order. Just remember what's truly important in life. Let the nay-sayers be just that.