Not Every Ball Is Equal: How Embracing Priorities Can Set You Free

I hate dropping the ball.

Whether it’s a missed text, a late response, or an overlooked task, there’s something in me that recoils when I know I’ve let someone down. I’m wired as an achiever—I want to do the job well, show up fully, honor people, and keep all the plates spinning. I take commitments seriously, and I don’t like giving anything less than my best.

But life doesn’t always cooperate with that mentality.

There are days when the calendar is full, the inbox is overwhelming, the kids are melting down, the unexpected emergencies pile up—and something has to give. If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning in good intentions but barely staying afloat, you’re not alone. Thats what I’ve felt like the past few weeks (heck…months!)

The tension we carry in those moments is often rooted in guilt. Guilt for missing a meeting. Guilt for serving fast food again. Guilt for not calling back. Guilt for being present in one area at the expense of another. And underneath that guilt is a dangerous belief: that every ball we’re juggling is equally important, and any one of them falling is a failure.

But recently, I heard someone say something that reframed the whole dynamic for me:

“In life, we’re all juggling a lot of balls. Some are plastic. Some are glass. The key is learning which is which—because when you drop a plastic ball, it bounces and you can pick it up later. But if you drop a glass one, it shatters.”

It stopped me in my tracks.

Not every ball is equal.

That’s the kind of wisdom I needed. Because let’s face it—there are days when something will fall. There are seasons when we can’t hold everything at once. But not everything we carry has the same weight or consequence. Some things are urgent. Some things are essential. Some things feel urgent but are actually just loud. And wisdom is learning the difference.

There are times when work throws a glass ball your way—a deadline, a crisis, a critical conversation—and something at home might need to flex. You might miss a soccer practice or have to reschedule dinner. That’s hard. But it doesn’t mean you’re failing your family.

And then, there are times when the glass ball is at home—a child who needs you, a spouse going through a hard day, a moment you can’t get back. And in those moments, it’s okay to let a few plastic balls fall at work. The email can wait. The project will bounce. You can pick it back up tomorrow.

The freedom is in the discernment.

You see, maturity isn’t just about being responsible—it’s about being wisely responsible. It’s recognizing that faithfulness doesn’t mean saying “yes” to everything. It means saying “yes” to the right things. And sometimes that means a sacred no to good things so you can hold tight to the best things.

For me, that realization lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. It gave me permission to reframe what success looks like in busy seasons. It reminded me that honoring people doesn’t always mean doing everything they ask, but it does mean being honest, present, and faithful to the roles God’s entrusted to me.

So here’s a gentle invitation: take inventory. What balls are you carrying right now? Which ones are truly glass—fragile, irreplaceable, non-negotiable? And which ones are plastic—good and valuable, but able to bounce if they fall for a moment?

It won’t make your schedule less full. It won’t remove the chaos completely. But it will give you a filter to lead with intentionality. It will help you prioritize with peace instead of guilt. And it just might keep you from trading what’s most important for what’s merely immediate.

You’ll drop some balls. That’s okay.

Just do your best not to drop the glass ones.

Brad Daugherty

Brad serves as the COO of Replicate Ministries, a coaching and consulting organization with a mission to empower churches to activate their unique disciple-making movement. Prior to Replicate, he has held various roles within the church, from Worship Pastor to Executive Pastor, and loves serving the local church by helping pastors and leaders discover ways to do ministry differently. Brad has coached and consulted leaders from both large and small churches, equipping them to grow sustainably through discipleship tools and strategies. Brad Lives in East Texas with his wife Stephanie, and four kids, James, Henry, Eleanor, and Andrew. He loves serving at his local church, New Beginnings, where he is on the worship team, and serves on the lead team in an advisory role.

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