by Becca Christensen

Christmas was weird in our house this year. One of my brother-in-laws and I both work for churches so we were busy and late. My newest brother-in-law couldn't come. One of my sisters had to take a red eye Christmas night to make it home. Dad had to work Christmas Day. We were a mess, I guess.

Dad has been a football coach for over 30 years and he has three daughters and no sons. The running joke amongst us girls though is that Dad cries more than all of us combined. On our makeshift late Christmas night we were gathered around the living room sharing what we're thankful for this year. Of course Dad was the first to get choked up. He said, 'the only thing I have ever wanted to successfully do is raise three girls who love The Lord. God has honored that desire'.

You guessed it, there wasn't a dry eye after that.

I've spent quite a bit of time since that evening thinking about that. What you may not know about my Dad and he'd never tell you if you met him is: he's a Super Bowl winning NFL football coach. In his profession that's the top of the pyramid. He has reached the ultimate football goal and he has the ring to prove it. Still he said with as much conviction as I've seen in twenty-eight years that success, for him, was raising godly daughters.

As we start a new year I am humbled and challenge by that. I have been blessed to watch my Dad use an incredible platform to further the kingdom and I have never once seen football trump faith. So now, in my own life and successes, what does that look like?

I've accepted that I won't be winning any Super Bowl rings of my own but the concept really hit home for me this year. As I start 2014 I feel challenged to make sure that success for me is always found in my relationship with The Lord and in his calling for my life. One thing I've watched my Dad do to keep the important things the important things in a worldly profession is spend time in the word every day. We figured out this Christmas that Dad has read the bible through in a year every single year of his 19 in the NFL. I just finished my 5th and began my 6th. I jokingly told him I'll beat him one day since I started so much earlier.

One particularly trying year in my career I asked him, 'how do you have time for all that bible reading?'. I know you're all thinking what a dumb question that was but remember this man works over 100 hours a week and I was struggling with 60! I have never forgotten a day since what he responded, 'I know that I can't make it a day without him'.

I don't miss my bible reading now. Not on busy days. Not for anything or anyone.

So for me, the focus of 2014 is not doing a day without Him. And as I set my goals and set up what I hope will be a successful year, my mind is focused on real success. I hope that you'll join me. Let's not let another year go by out of focus.

What is your focus for 2014? Share your comments below!

Becca Christensen works at Grace Family Church as a Ministry Assistant. She loves to  travel, entertain, read, spend time with family, and root on the Indianapolis Colts. In addition to contributing to the Beautiful Blog, Becca leads a table at Beautiful Monday Nights. You can read more about Becca on her  blog, www.beccachristensen.wordpress.com.