Ah-h-h-h…the keys that unlock the safe of fruitfulness. Fruitful living can be a difficult achievement. To know that who I am and what I am doing is making a difference and having a significant impact on peoples lives. This is a noteworthy aspiration but fruitfulness must begin with me. There was a season in my life when I wanted to conquer the world – be all I could be for others – yet my struggles were deep within. I was not conquering certain areas in my life.

A little voice within my heart whispered, “Prioritize your purpose and calendar your calling.” You see my purpose as a husband and father needed prioritizing. I can so easily put off responsibilities at home to meet the needs of a suffering, dying world. Here’s what I’m trying my best to live by:

• Re-identify my purpose as a husband and father. To be a nurturer, counselor, listener, pastor, coach, mentor and leader at home.

• List my priorities. Write a “to do” list of all the things, activities, chores, devotional and family times I need to reestablish. Then prioritize them.

• Once I prioritized my purpose, this indicated and reaffirmed what my calling was. I needed to “Calendar my Calling.” In other words, fill my calendar – schedule my priorities according to my redefined calling. I would write in my calendar, all the events, family activities, chores, devotionals first. My other assignments outside of being a husband and father would be scheduled thereafter.