God First, Family Second, Career third, fourth, fifth.......

In a world where more and more people have little integrity, zero desire to do what's right and little respect for life and love, we can find ourselves in a real struggle to determine what is truly right and truly wrong.

I have come to realize and believe that without the principles of God First, Family Second and Career Third, you will not live a fulfilled life. You may live a prosperous life, a wealthy life, a "fun" life but you will have missed out on a lot.

I have observed several prominent professionals who have achieved many things in their life at the expense of their relationship with God and at the expense of having a real family life.

I read recently that during our lives we are flooded with choices; the higher paying job, the new car vs the old car, this degree or that degree. We are quite literally bombarded with CHOICES. However as we get older, for those who are conscious of the fact that we are creatures, created by God that they choice really comes down to Heaven or Hell, Everlasting Life or everlasting hatred, pain and suffering.

I think the earlier we start incorporating this fundamental choice into every aspect of our life, we will not have to worry after we retire from the high paying job whether we were a good person or not.

If when you are offered an opportunity and we say to ourselves "heaven or hell" when making the choice we are on the right track.

Life used to be easy, everyone knew what was right and what was wrong. Nowadays it is very difficult to make a clear distinction. Those of us who still live a conscious life I think it gets easier in determining right from wrong. Our emotions are not there just to lead us astray, they are like warning signals. When a choice makes your emotionally uncomfortable you're probably being challenged morally. It could however, be a sort of fear that acts us inside of you, but at the end of the day emotions let you know that a choice is on the horizon. That choice is probably trying to shake up the priority of God, family and career.

If we always keep our career as a priority ahead of family and God, we will be forever unhappy and dissatisfied with life. When a choice in your career that means twice your current salary but four hours more on the road, that should really equate to four less hours to be with my family, or four hours that I will NOT have to help the kids with their homework, or four hours that I will NOT have to spend volunteering to feed the old age, or four hours that I would NOT have that I could visit a Blessed Sacrament.

More money could never replace what is most important to you as a person. In determining what are the right and wrong choices in life we have to examine for ourselves what we value. If you value money over your children, well good for you. I will caution you to re-examine your priorities in this life so that you will be a little happier in the next.

If you value climbing the corporate ladder more than your relationship with your God and husband again, that is your choice.

But remember always that choices we are ultimately making in this life is Heaven or Hell. If we break everything we do to these two simple aspects we may find ourselves making radical decisions according to the world's standards but we will ultimately be making decisions that satisfy and fulfill.