We recently had an experience with our kids involving being disappointed. They play Pop Warner Football and Cheer. They have been working so hard for the last 10 weeks or so.. practicing 2-3 nights per week. Games every Saturday. This is not counting the extra clinics and such they have participated in.
They made it to Division Champions. And then they stopped dead in their tracks.
They played for Conference Champs this last week. The other team was a little bit bigger than our boys. They were a little faster.
Our coaches say that we were out coached and our boys did a great job. But the boys don't hear that. All they know is that they were winning, and then they lost.
Then our cheer leaders went to a Cheer Competition. They rocked it out! There were a few mistakes made... but they did really well overall.
The judges did not even place them. They received a medal for playing and that was it.
In both of these situations, I watched kids and coaches work really hard for a goal. They worked and worked and worked. Then when the goal wasn't reached, they fell apart. And I mean literally in some cases.
It got me to wondering... What will the parents do with this situation?
Will they turn it around and say that it was fixed, unfair, or something of that sort? Will they turn it around and say "well let's look at what you have accomplished to get this far"...and be thankful for that or will they only be focused on the loss?
Life is full of hardship, unfairness, disappointment waits around every bend.
It is ALL about what you choose to do with it.
How you handle every situation, what lesson you learn from it.
That's what makes you or breaks you.
How does this relate to preparedness you ask?
In times of crisis, how will we react? When times are tough.. I mean REALLY tough... will we have the courage, the gumption to endure to the end... and make it be as positive as we can?
Or will we fall apart?
I have been told before that I am mean because I don't give into anger, sadness, frustration and such very often. Because of this, I sometimes may appear to lack empathy. This is SO not the case. I simply don't want to waste my time and energy. Being sad, mad, or unhappy... in my case... is a waste... it will not change a single thing. It might make me feel better for a little while.. but then the reality of the situation will come back into play... and it wouldn't have solved any of it.
One of the many things we should be and hopefully are working on... is our ATTITUDES. These wonderful little things we have been blesses with... can help us overcome some pretty rotten things if we allow it to. We need to make sure we are nurturing a positive, loving, seeking after all things good and pure sort of attitude.
It is so not always easy... but it is doable.
I will leave you with my testimony, that I KNOW without a shadow of a doubt... that we agreed to come to this earth, and deal with what we each deal with. We knew before hand what we were getting into. All of it. And our Spirit selves, knew that we could and would do it. It is up to us to find ways to maintain that attitude in this mortal life. To help us do what we need to do , to endure to the end. To be prepared for come what may... and to have a smile in our eyes, and hope and love in our hearts.
I leave this testimony and a short quote with you, in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
"Attitudes are contagious.... Is yours WORTH catching?" - Pres. G. B. Hinckley
Jess is happily married to her best friend and mom to three kiddos..Actively practicing attachment parenting, home schooling and much more...You can read about their adventures on her blog,
Life Learners.
Thoughts mold your features. Thoughts lift your soul heavenward or drag you toward hell. … As nothing reveals character like the company we like and keep, so nothing foretells futurity like the thoughts over which we brood. … To have the approval of your conscience when you are alone with your thoughts is like being in the company of true and loving friends. To merit your own self-respect gives strength to character. Conscience is the link that binds your soul to the spirit of God.
Hear that Utah Moms? Plus, not only do you have a great new shop to buy everything you need from pregnancy to pre-teens, but if you stop in at Oopsie Daisy in South Jordan, you can say hello to owner Tiffany Avery - who just so happens to be my big sister!
Don't you love the hymn 'Nearer, My God, To Thee?' It's always been one of my favorites. The one problem I have with it, though, is the fact that the best verse is one that is frequently unsung. Here it is: 
ve like that anymore. Starting now, the stone goes to building that house of God.
Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God.
That's the husband's rule. Of course, this is not a hard and fast rule--we watched Fred Claus the other day, clearly skipping two major American holidays and one English (can I get a shout out for Guy Fawkes day!?!). But it does apply to things like decorating: no Christmas trees will be seen before Thanksgiving around here. Come Black Friday, it's free game, but not until then.
