I think my age group is in a really cool stage of life right now. We’re “new adults,” and even though I’m almost 30, it still feels like I’m just figuring this whole adulthood thing out. I mean, technically, I’ve only been an adult for about 12 years, but I digress.

What I’m trying to say is this: we’re at the age where we can look back on our childhood and clearly see how our priorities have shifted. And yeah, older generations love to look at us and say we don’t have our priorities in order, but let’s be honest, they were the same way once. They’re just far enough removed that they get to remember things the way they want to remember them.

For me, this whole realization hit when I caught myself debating whether to use a few vacation days for hunting, something that used to be untouchable, or save them for when the baby gets here. Four years ago, if you’d told me anything could outrank burning vacation days on hunting, I would’ve called you crazy. But as you grow, your perspective changes. What matters changes. Suddenly, the things you once treated as non-negotiable take a back seat to the people God has placed in your life.

And that’s when you start to feel more like your parents. Sorry for another hunting analogy; it’s in my blood, and ’tis the season. But my dad always used to say, “I don’t care if we get anything, I’m just happy we’re together.” I remember thinking, “This guy is crazy. I want to shoot a buck.” But now I get it. I really do. I enjoy the quiet, the time together, the stillness.

That shift happens because, as you get older, responsibilities sneak up on you. You’re juggling a dozen different things, and moments of peace get harder to come by. So when you get the chance to sit in the woods with your dad, and for a moment nothing else seems to matter, that is a pretty great feeling.

The crazy thing is that the stuff I used to think was so important, like hunting, free weekends, and doing whatever I wanted, is still important. It’s just not the most important anymore. Those late nights with friends have turned into early dinners so I can wake up before the sun, get a workout in, and give the rest of the day to my family. And some hobbies have definitely taken a back seat. Man, when’s the last time I even played golf?

Now my idea of fun looks completely different. These days, it’s waking up at 4:30 a.m. to run on my treadmill, and watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” with Lauren. Honestly, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

With a baby on the way, I’ve been thinking a lot about the man my son will see. I want to be the kind of dad who shows up. The type of dad he knows will put him first every time. I have a great model to follow, and if my son one day looks at me the way I look at my dad, I’ll consider that a win.

And really, that is the point of all these examples. Your priorities shift. Over time, you realize that God and family are the most important things in your life. And if you can find consistent, meaningful time for both, everything else tends to fall into place.

There is a real sense of peace that comes when your hobbies become just that: hobbies. Your main focus becomes loving your family well and being there for the people who matter most.

I truly believe God grows your heart before He grows your family. He shifts your priorities long before you realize what He’s doing. God showed me how to work hard and stay dedicated, not so I could become the next Masters Golf champion, but so I could understand what commitment looks like when it comes time to lead a family.

So yes, priorities have shifted. And soon, it will be time to take everything I’ve learned and become the best dad I can possibly be.

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this.” ~ Psalm 37:5