An example to our children

Any parent would be quick to admit that parenting is a tricky business. I would say that most of us moms and dads generally do our best to perform the challenging tasks of parenting. And we quickly realize that parental training happens "on the job." We also commit to be good examples to our children as they enter this world, but often end up having a few "do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do" moments. How important it is for each of us parents to live our lives in a manner that our children can observe, respect, and even... follow.

Almost 150 years ago, Mormon prophet and renowned pioneer Brigham Young said: "We should never permit ourselves to do anything that we are not willing to see our children do. We should set them an example that we wish them to imitate."

Ours is definitely the task to be fitting examples for our children. Such Christian virtues as integrity, charity, spirituality, accountability, civility, and fidelity are in a decline in our communities. However, how important it is for us parents to stand tall and firmly fixed in following and possessing these virtues so we can pass them on to our children.

H. David Burton once said: "Teaching virtuous traits begins in the home with parents who care and set the example. A good example encourages emulation; a poor example gives license to the children to disregard the parents' teachings and even expand the poor example. A hypocritical example destroys credibility." So we must ask ourselves: How will our children remember us?

Do we tell our children to be good sports, and then yell at the refs at our children's sporting events? Do we discourage swearing to our children, and then... swear at the driver that cut us off on the freeway?

By "walking the talk," and setting the kind of example that we would have our children imitate... we are better able to create... "Quality Living". -Doug

Are we prepared??

Today we live in an affluent society where nearly every service imaginable is at our fingertips or merely a phone call away. Many of us have become accustomed to this "room service." We shop for groceries every day or two at the corner market or superstore with thousands of different foods to choose from to satisfy our pampered appetites, and we usually cannot fathom a situation where these goods or services would be unavailable. However.... ask anyone who experienced a local catastrophe such as hurricanes, raging wildfires, tornadoes, or earthquakes, and they will quickly relate (often sadly from hindsight) the importance of being prepared, and how maybe they could have done better.

How self-reliant are we and our families? Have we prepared and set aside extra food, shelter, clothing, and other items? It has been said that "without food, nothing else matters." Have we as individuals and families developed the skills and resources required for self-reliance in the absence of commercially available products for an extended period of time? As the victims of Hurricane Katrina can attest... food and supplies don't always arrive in a timely manner.
Family preparedness includes the areas of home food storage, education, career development, money management, health care, and emotional support. Together, they help meet the ordinary requirements of day-to-day living.

So.... where do we begin? What tools are available to help us become more self-reliant??

The state of Utah has created a GREAT website dedicated to helping families and individuals in this important area. Although produced by the Utah government... the info presented apply to EVERYONE. Here is the site:

http://bereadyutah.gov/

If we are prepared (remember the Scout Motto??), there will be no need to fear. And becoming more self-reliant and prepared for the unexpected... truly helps to create "Quality Living."

It's the little things that make a difference...

There was a man taking a morning walk at or the beach. He saw that along with the morning tide came hundreds of starfish and when the tide receded, they were left behind and with the morning sun rays, they would die. The tide was fresh and the starfish were alive. The man took a few steps, picked one and threw it into the water. He did that repeatedly. Right behind him there was another person who couldn't understand what this man was doing. He caught up with him and asked, "What are you doing? There are hundreds of starfish. How many can you help? What difference does it make?" This man did not reply, took two more steps, picked up another one, threw it into the water, and said, "It makes a difference to this one."

What kind of difference are we making? Whether big or small, it really doesn't matter... they all count. And that creates... "Quality Living." :)
-Doug

Unselfishness.... a key to Quality Living

(Taken from an address by Dallin H. Oaks)

We live in a time when sacrifice is definitely out of fashion, when the outside forces taught our ancestors the need for unselfish cooperative service have diminished. Someone has called this the “me” generation – a selfish time when everyone seems to be asking, “what’s in it for me?” This kind of attitude produces no positive change and no growth.

The common aspiration of our day is to get something for nothing. Greed shows its face in the assertion of entitlement. I am entitled to this of that because of who I am – a son or a daughter, a citizen, a victim, or a member of some other group. Entitlement is generally selfish. It demands much, and it gives little or nothing. Its very concept causes us to seek to elevate ourselves above those around us. This separates us from the divine, evenhanded standard of reward.

The effects of greed and entitlement are evident in the multimillion dollar bonuses of some corporate executives. But the examples are more widespread than that. Greed and ideas of entitlement have also fueled the careless and widespread borrowing and excessive consumerism behind the financial crisis that threaten to engulf the world. Gambling is another example of greed and selfishness. The gambler ventures a minimum amount in the hope of a huge return that comes by taking it away from others. No matter how it is disguised, getting something for nothing is contrary to the law of the harvest: “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)

A great example of unselfish service is the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta, whose vow committed herself and her fellow workers to wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor. She taught that “one thing will always secure heaven for us – the acts of charity and kindness with which we have filled our lives. We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” Her life of unselfish service is an inspiration to all the world, and her acts of Christian goodness will stand as a memorial for generations to come.

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Yes… we are happier and more fulfilled when we act and serve for what we give, and not for what we get. And this helps us create… QUALITY LIVING.

Doug :)