A note for my kids....
If for some crazy reason my life was cut short, I would want my kids to know some important things that I have learned from living in this world.
Dear sweet babies,
1. You're going to make mistakes, so get over it!
In life you are going to make many mistakes and on daily basis and that's okay.We are here to learn from our mistakes and even make mistakes so that we can teach ourselves to do better and be better. You will stumble, I wish I could tell you that life is a bed of roses and it is, but it's also full of thorns. So you will get pricked and cut, but put a band aid on it and move on. Now, I'm not saying every mistake is okay, because it is not. Some mistakes are more serious than others that you will be disciplined on. I want you to learn from your mistakes and strive to be the best you can be. Don't let your mistakes define you and get the best of you. Satan is your enemy in life, he wants to make you feel that your mistakes will ruin you and why try to be better or it is better to be bad. He is a false preacher, so don't even listen to him. Just get back up and dust yourself off and move forward always. A quote that I love by John Wooden says, "If you're not making mistakes, than you're not doing anything." Mistakes are okay and a big part of life, but it's all about how you learn from your mistakes and handle it.
2. Stay close to the Lord.
I wish I could tell you that I have always had a testimony or have been close to Lord, but I haven't. As a teenager I struggled with my testimony but being close the Lord is the best and most important thing you can do and have in this life. Times will be hard in life, you will face hard trials that will test you to your breaking points, you will face temptation from the adversary and life will be hard at times, but stay close to the Lord, He will help you overcome anything. It will take a lot of faith and patience on your part, but draw close to the Lord and He will draw close to you. Don't blame God when things get rough, but seek Him in those rough moments. God loves you perfectly and knows you better than I ever will. He knows how to help you and gave you the greatest gift this world has ever received, Jesus Christ. So seek that gift and use it daily. Look for the Lord. Look for the lighthouses that shines light on our dark seas in our own lives. Stay close to the Lord always, He is the most important relationship you can possibly ever have.
3. Don't fear failure.
I believe that fear of failure is the greatest failure we can have. Much like mistakes you will face failure, but don't let it define you. The world is not patient, it is a competitive place, it will not be understanding or wait for you, you have to keep with it or it will leave you in the dust. You will be denied jobs, your school applications will be dismissed, you may even fail tests at school or not get the grade you are looking for. But, don't get this idea that failure keeps you from success that you want in this life, it actually brings you closer to success. Some of the most influential lives that ever lived faced failure and mastered it with success. Think of Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, Walt Disney, Michael Jordan, and so many more on the list. To achieve in this life is to bounce back when we fall and not fearing to fail. Success is often defined as being on the top or having such things in your life, But I believe strongly that success is defined as doing your best and if at the end of the day or at the end of a trial/hardship and you can say to yourself that you did your best, to me that is success. Being the best you at every opportunity and every time you face failure face to face. Have faith over fear.
4. Don't judge others.
You will grow up in a judge mental world. You're judged on how you act, what you do, what you did, what brands of clothes you wear, your looks and the list goes on and on. Some people in life have tons, some people have little. Some people are crazy rich and money isn't an issue, while some people struggle to make money or have no money at all. You may even have friends who will have "better lives" than you in terms of material things, but don't judge anyone on what they have and what you don't have, things do not define people. Even though you will be judged, try your best to not judge others harshly. Embrace differences. No one is perfect, we are all imperfect humans living in a severely imperfect world. See everyone with love in your eyes regardless of what path of life they are on. Treat and respect others as you would want to be respected and treated.
5. Forgive and forget.
"Forgiveness sets a prisoner free, than realizing that prisoner was you."Don't let forgiveness be an option. Life isn't fair. Always forgive people of their trespasses against you no matter how hard it may be or how badly they hurt you, just do it. You will be a better person for it. If you do wrong to someone for something, always be humble and ask forgiveness from that individual and the Lord. Forget your past mistakes and transgressions. If your past is something you have worked through and repented of, than move on !God forgives andforgets, so should we. Don't dwell on things that have no need or purpose at all. Forgive quickly and often, and forgive yourself daily.
6. To KK respect yourself and find someone who will treat you right and to my boys respect girls with the utmost respect.
You are absolutely beautiful. Please know that you do not need to wear short shorts or wear clothing that is to revealing to impress anyone, especially a guy. If you feel you have to do anything to impress anyone, they truly and obviously isn't worth it. Treat yourself right and respect who you are as a woman. Be independent. Be yourself. Be different. And be confident. Love your differences and embrace your talents. Don't ever feel like you are not good enough. Never try to be someone else and never lower your standards for any reason. The right relationship to have with the right man is with one who will like you for who you are and what you do, and will respect that and not try to change anything.
To sons of mine, you better treat girls right! Be a gentleman. Hold doors, pull out chairs, be chivalrous to every girl. In a world where love is questioned, be a real man and treat every woman with respect. God loves all His children, but He especially loves his daughters and we must treat all of them with the utmost respect. A real man, in my opinion, treats a woman right and respectfully. Don't let the world tell you how to act around the opposite sex or what to wear or how to look to impress someone. Just be yourself, for the right person will like you for being exactly who you are.
All of these things I mentioned were things I learned from experience, trials and discovering who I truly am. Find out who you truly are and who you are meant to be. Don't be afraid to be yourself, be different and dare to dream! Dare to follow your dreams. Don't listen to the world and the people who tell you you can't do it. Follow your heart. Go after your passion. Be independent. Be faithful. Don't fear. Forgive often. Follow the Lord. Love God. Be happy and smile always. "Life is to be enjoyed, not endured." President Gordon B. Hinckley
I will love you always and forever and am here if you ever need anything.
Love Mom
