Relational Rocks in 2011

As we continue our ROCKS for New Year series on the blog, let's focus on RELATIONSHIP.

I guess everyone might have different key relationships they focus on that is healthy. As a Christian mine go like this: Jesus, Family, Friends, Others.
I say that with some hesitation b/c I want to be the kind of person that is available to everybody - b/c I believe I'm put in my world for a reason. However, I've come to realize that I won't be great help to my neighbors or co-workers or even a homeless person on the street unless I truly love God, my family, and my friends well - otherwise I'd be hypocritical.

What ROCKS/priorities will help you with relationships? What must you put down FIRST in your calendar and commitments?

TIME.
I need to set aside time for the important relationships in my life.
Time = Value
Time = Importance
Time = Love and Appreciation

What does time look like? For me (out side of a relationship with God which I mentioned in the previous post)

FAMILY
Open evenings with little planned with my family around.
Meal times together consistently
Vacations set through out the year - even a simple day trip counts
Serving each other when a need arises
Date night (if you're married or engaged)

FRIENDS
Friends night - people over for supper
Saying yes when friends invite you over
Available to help from time to time (within reason)
Activities together

NEIGHBORS
Outside porch with nothing to do but spontaneously talk to a neighbor or invite them to sit with you for a drink
Scheduling a dinner party or BBQ in advance
Available to help them from time to time

To keep these as ROCKS and not let them fill your life up too fast I suggest giving yourself some priorities
- Weekly Family Night
- 2-3 Nights with little planned
- Monthly Friends Night
- Monthly Date Night
- Yearly Vacation
- Periodic Day Trips
- join a small group at church
- commit to participating in your church's next potluck or social activity
- Monthly New Person Night (neighbor, new person at church, some needing company)

Of course that means letting some demands on you wait a few weeks. It means making sure these come 1st not last. It means, like all priorities in your life, saying yes to some means saying no to others.

WHAT OTHER WAYS DO YOU PUT YOUR RELATIONSHIPS FIRST? HOW HAVE YOU HAD TO SAY NO TO OTHER REQUESTS AS A RESULT? WHICH RELATIONSHIPS COME FIRST FOR YOU? HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE FAMILY/FRIEND/NEIGHBOR TENSION?