Somebody New

I love meeting new people.  There is a man that I just met who has three children and is recently divorced after twenty years of marriage.  During our conversation I learned that he currently works three jobs and his parents take care of his children, for the most part.  He has full custody of them.  He has a set of twins who are sixteen and a thirteen year old.  He spoke with a smile on his face and I wondered to myself how in the world he does it.  The answer he gave to me made perfect sense.  It is his faith that keeps him anchored to the things that are really important.

I would like to remind us all that there are misfortunes in life but there are plenty of examples of people who make the best out of those situations. 

Be thankful for what you have and strive to make the best out of every moment, even when it gets tough.

He Is Given

The Bible teaches us something of great import.  A favorite scripture is found in John 3:16.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  How thankful I am for the Savior.  I was deep in thought today and my mind turned to the love I feel for Jesus Christ.  It is by and through Him that we can overcome the weaknesses we have and the mistakes we make. 

When I was a little boy I wondered how it was possible that this Jesus could take away the wrongs that I make.  I can honestly say that at 40 years old I still wonder how He can do that.  The logistics of His precise part and how it all works in the Plan of our Heavenly Father are complex but I know it is real.  I do know that His distinct role will cleanse us because I have experienced it repeatedly in my own life.  I enjoy the peace that comes because of Him.

The future is bright!  Through continued practice, some of life's lessons get easier.  I am thankful for my life as I keep moving forward always learning from my mistakes.  I will always be indebted to the Savior for all that He has done.

One For The Ages

We attended a soccer game last night.  Our youngest son Danny loves the game and is fortunate to play on a team with a good coach and players who are willing to hustle.
I was amazed at the hustling play of each team member and I was reminded of what happens when people accomplish something as a team.
I have been taught and then reminded of my role as a team player in our family.  It takes the gifts of each person to carry out and succeed. 
I am grateful for Becky and the important role she plays as a wife and mother.  She does so much and her role blesses each member of our family. 
I hope that I am the kind of husband and father who plays as a team member and wants to succeed so that our family will be happy.

I Love People

It has been a rich blessing to have relationships and friendships that are meaningful in many different ways.  The friendships that I enjoy are with people who have the desire to do good things and be good decent people.
When I was young I wanted to have as many friends as there was possible to have.  I hoped that when I grew up that the number of those friends would be countless.
It's not countless but I have enjoyed some neat associations.
People are generally good.  Look around and notice all of the people who are doing good because it's the right thing to do.
Many of you are those people.  Thanks for being good!  I love what you teach me.  It is a blessing to have you as my friends.

It's A Hard World

I found this particularly helpful for the young people in our society but I believe that this applies to everyone.

 

"You are growing up in enemy territory. When you become mature spiritually, you will understand how the adversary has infiltrated the world around you. He is in homes, entertainment, the media, language—everything around you. In most cases, his presence is undetected.

I want to tell you that which will be of most worth and most desirable. The scriptures say, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom,” and I would add, “with all [your] getting get [going!]” (Proverbs 4:7). I do not have time to waste and neither do you. So listen up!

The moment I decided to be a teacher is very clear in my mind. During World War II, I was in my early 20s and a pilot in the Air Force. I was stationed on the little island of Ie Shima. This island, a small, lonely one about as big as a postage stamp, is just off the northern tip of Okinawa.

One lonely summer evening, I sat on a cliff to watch the sun go down. I was pondering what I would do with my life after the war, if I was fortunate enough to survive. What did I want to be? It was on that night that I decided I wanted to be a teacher. I reasoned that teachers are always learning. Learning is a basic purpose of life."  (Boyd K. Packer~Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

 

I am grateful for those who teach me the things that are right.  The good example that we set will be helpful to those who are watching. 

Good Taste

As a child my mom and dad taught me lessons that dealt with expressing good taste. The manner that I dressed was one of these examples. Another was the 'company' that I kept--in other words the friends that I associated with.
There are many who choose a contrary point of view but it is up to me and you to display the things in our lives that are of good taste.
An example was brought up of the importance of speaking about things that are appropriate and uplifting. Our children are constantly bombarded with the filth that so prevalently surrounds them. The hallways of their schools are laced with the language that would make a sailor blush.
I would echo the feelings of my parents. Let the words that proceed out of your mouth be the kind that would bring honor and a great deal of satisfaction to those that are the very closest to you. When I say something I often think about the appropriateness of it and reflect on whether my wife, children or parents would find it acceptable.

Your Stride

Our daughters were talking about the length of their strides when they walk. The feedback was that our youngest daughter has to take three walking steps to equal one of our oldest daughter's strides. It got me thinking about what the strides in our own lives mean to each of us. What does my stride mean to me personally?
I believe that the 'strides' that we make have a impact on life and how it all plays out for us as individuals. I observed an older gentleman serving a woman that was much younger than he. The task wasn't particularly easy for the man but the smile he wore on his face told me that he enjoyed what he was doing. In my mind this man was lengthening his stride.
I am personally blessed by the strides of so many others around me who take the time and make the effort to ease the burdens of those around them. I watch intently as these same people make the efforts without the expectation of thanks.
The strides that our daughters talk about teach us a valuable lesson. It doesn't matter the length of your stride rather the willingness to lengthen it.