First Things First in 2026

With 2026 officially underway, I am curious to see what this year holds. I am hopeful and encouraged, but I have also gotten old enough to realize that I am living on God’s timetable and plan, not mine. In a great way, finally accepting this reality relieves a lot of self-inflicted pressure. It also leaves a little window in my mind prepared for a surprise. A good one, I hope. My goal is to get up each day, have my mouth, actions, and heart honor God, and if God gives me breath for another day, do it again tomorrow. This really smart guy I married says, “The best way to do God’s will tomorrow is to do God’s will today.” It is true. I am all about preparing and planning, but sometimes we overcomplicate things and forget that God boiled it all down to loving Him and loving others. If I can do that for the hours that I am awake each day, I will consider that day a “W.”

As we wrapped up 2025, introducing my Christmas Priority Time Plan, it reminded me how much I like to blog. So here I am. With One City Church, Unite Memphis, and the opening of Breadie’s Café ahead of me, I was hesitant to restart my blog, but some commonsense encouragement from someone close to me reminded me that the world won’t end if I don’t blog every week. (What?!) So what better way to start a snow day if you are in Memphis, right?

As I reflected on what use my words could actually have in this world, I was quickly reminded that during the week of our 31st wedding anniversary, the people we were hanging out with had just celebrated twelve years and nine years of marriage, respectively. I hardly see myself as that much further along, but it’s true. Chris and I have lived more life and if we are humble, we should have learned some things along the way. To that end, I am going to attempt to theme my 2026 blog around the 26 Things I Have Learned About God, Husbands, and Kids. (Don’t worry if you don’t have a husband or children, my theme is more figurative than literal, and I promise there will be application for every season of life and even for the guys who read my blog.) I hope you will find it helpful, encouraging, and relatable. Let me know along the way. No point in wasting moments that could be better spent, if this little thing isn’t actually honoring God and helping others.

And I will start today with what might end up being the most important observation of 2026: The sequence of my blog theme is the key to navigating the most important people in your life. God must be first if I have any hope in being a quality wife or mom. There is not a human alive who can love their spouse (or anyone else, for that matter) the way God calls us to, without tapping into the love only available through our Heavenly Father. We can have good intentions to be a good wife or husband, but our good intention tank will quickly run dry if we don’t have a source of love greater than ourselves to be patient and kind when we are worn out.

It is also critical that after God, your marriage is second. There is something about giving birth to a child that often gives us greater grace for our children than for our spouse, but it is incredibly important to fight the urge to become child centered. Child centered homes might work for a while, but under the surface, it will create a disconnect with spouses and gives your kids the impression that the world revolves around them. Neither will bite you on day one or day one thousand, but reversing the order will not give you the future you desire for your children or your marriage.

So what do you do if you sense you have those relationships out of order? The great news is that this is not a shock to God, and He is just waiting for you to ask for help. He doesn’t expect you to love your spouse or kids less, but when you come to Him and tell Him you need the grace to put Him first, your spouse second, and your children third, He is on it. Ask Him to give you what you need, and then watch for ways that He begins to help you have the desire and grace to make the adjustment. What an amazing God we serve that we can even come to Him to ask Him for help to love Him more or our spouse more, and He welcomes our request.

Here’s to 2026, my friends! Keep warm! Glad to be back in your inbox!