This week I have been in South Dakota with my kids visiting my brother and his family. Yep, South Dakota in the dead of winter. Exciting stuff. His boy is going to be baptized today and we are looking forward to a special experience. I have enjoyed the time with my kids and we are bonding. I am grateful for family and for the good influences I have around me. I love being a dad.
I have been thinking a lot about decisions lately and how they effect our lives. Not so much the big decisions but the little ones along the way. Some decisions are so small we don't even realize we are making them. But they can have a long lasting effect on the outcome of our lives. I think it is safe to say that I have made some bad decisions. These bad decisions have lead to a lot of sadness and sorrow. But what I have noticed is that these bad decisions that I made have been the accumulation of many smaller bad decisions. Each day as we wake up and face the world we have a positive influence sitting on one shoulder and the negative influence on the other. Sometimes I like to literally picture that as I go throughout the day making decisions and fighting for what is right. We are constantly being bombarded with temptations from the negative influence. Constant whisperings try to lead us astray. If we are not careful, we can be lead down the wrong path by listening to these whisperings and making smaller bad decisions that will lead to eventual big ones. I am learning this lesson the hard way and I am hoping that my good decisions in the future will change the course of my life. I know that it is possible and that we will be blessed for our good decisions.
President Thomas S. Monson of the LDS church has said that "decisions determine destiny". The decisions we make everday will determine the outcome of our lives. I believe this to be true. The amazing thing about repentance and the need for a Savior is that no matter the decisions we have made in the past, we can change the course of our lives. We can make the right decisions. We can change who we are through consistently making right decisions.
I am grateful for my nephew and his good decision to be baptized today. I am grateful for his example to my kids and that we will all be able to witness this experience together. I hope and pray that my good decisions in the future will lead to what I desire most in this life. I pray that my good decisions will have a positive influence on my kids and on the people who I love. Let's decide now to make good decisions for the future.
Hi Matt,
ReplyDeleteYour thoughts today reminded me of a quote I read recently. "Work at keeping your thoughts clean by thinking of something good. The mind can think of only one thing at a time. Use that fact to crowd out ugly thoughts. Above all, don't feed thoughts by reading or watching things that are wrong. If you don't control your thoughts, Satan will keep tempting you until you eventually act them out." ~Elder Richard G. Scott
You are right. All of our actions, whether they be right or wrong, begin with something as small and simple as a thought. It is a constant struggle for all of us to replace the "ugly with the good". I appreciate King Benjamin's admonition in Mosiah 4:30! Keep up the fight and remember you have the love and support of our family!
Liesl Bernards
Liesl,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your comment and the quote. That is one I haven't heard and Iove how Elder Scott conveys his messages. His words have been a big help to me. Your family is a great example to me. Thank you!
Matt