I like exercise. So much so that I have a treadmill in my bedroom, and that used to be a near-daily activity for me. It was a great time to read a few chapters on my Kindle or watch an episode of a TV show. Multitasking at its finest!

Used to be.

My niece lives with me, and at 18 months old, she’s not fond of being separated from her favorite auntie. Not even long enough for me to snag a mile or two on the treadmill. I don’t know about you, but I can’t receive any amount of enjoyment from an activity when someone is screaming for me in the other room. As she grows older, we’re teaching her in small ways that she can’t always have what she wants, but I’m not willing to make my presence that specific lesson while she’s still so little. At least not over something like this.

But a wonderful thing has happened. Spring is blossoming here in the Ozarks. I can pop Anna into her car seat, load the stroller into the back of the van, and zip down to our local park. They have a great trail for walking, running, and biking—or pushing a stroller. I’ve already lost count of the afternoons we’ve spent down there. Not only do I get in my walk, but both of us get the benefit of sunshine and fresh air. We get to observe the ducks on the lake and the birds flying overhead.

I actually get a better workout at the park, because I’m pushing the stroller. And I usually end up singing nursery rhymes, so my lungs get stretched even more.

Isn’t she cute?

People are always more important than accomplishments. It doesn’t matter if that’s my niece, a student, a friend, or a stranger. We all have so much we’re trying to juggle in this weighty world, and there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be productive. But productivity isn’t what’s going to count in the end.

There are only two things on this earth that are eternal. One is God’s Word. The other is people.

Even little people.

In recent weeks, I’ve found myself thinking that my niece doesn’t know a lot of things about me. She doesn’t know I’m a novelist, or a book blogger, or a teacher, or a friend of others closer to my own age. All these things (and many more!) clamor for my time. How does Anna know me? As one of the people she loves most in the world, one who makes her feel safe and warm, one who cuddles and tickles and sings her favorite songs. This is important work too. Perhaps my most important at this specific time.

Maybe I don’t get to spend as much time as I would like working on my manuscript each day. Perhaps my book reviews take longer to appear on my blog because I lack opportunity to write them. But none of that matters when I just need to be Auntie.

People first. Always.

If you see a woman at the park pushing a stroller while singing nursery rhymes, remember she’s probably doing her most important work. If you are that woman, take heart. You’re doing exactly what you need to do.