Patience

We may not be 4 years old but I know that this experiment applies to us all. Only 30% of the children were able to wait to see their reward double. I find this to be like Heavenly Father. What may seem like a life time to a child (15 minutes), may feel like seconds to a parent taking a "time out." How many times Heavenly Father has said, "wait 15 minutes and your reward will double!" but we can't wait that long. We think we know what is best. Not knowing/remembering we can't see the whole picture like Heavenly Father can.

"What started as a simple experiment with children and marshmallows became a landmark study suggesting that the ability to wait—to be patient—was a key character trait that might predict later success in life."

This saying stuck with me the first time I saw this video. Everyone wants to be successful in life. And a servant of the Lord has told us how we can achieve this. Be patient!!  Believe me, I know this is not easy. But I also know that Heavenly Father isn't going to give us anything we cannot handle.

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." 1 Nephi 3:7 

I know we have a Loving Heavenly Father who wants us to succeed. And we can do this by following President Uchtdorf's advice by keeping the commandments, trusting God- serving Him, having faith and hope in Him and NEVER give up.

Slippery Roads

A couple weeks ago I learned a very valuable lesson... The once snow packed roads had just turned into ice packed roads. Sister Buchanan and I were driving down the road when all of a sudden our truck started to fishtail. By the time we were done sliding we had done a complete180 degree turn. We were on the other side of the road facing the direction we had just come.After a few wide eyed looks, big breaths, and a "thank you!" to Heavenly Father we took off again. We had only gone a block down the road when we started sliding and completed another 180 degree turn! All I could think is "what is going on! and get me out of this truck!"  That night we got a couple inches of fresh snow. I was excited- thinking it would help give some traction. We were walking down the street and all of a sudden the next thing I knew I was on my back laying in the cold wet snow. The roads were wet and icy with a layer of snow on them which made it very dangerous. I found I couldn't see what was underneath me to tell me where to walk. Needless to say I fell a couple times that day. By the time I was laying in bed that night my body ached as I thought about what had taken place over the last couple days. The snow covered the slippery ice so you couldn't tell where it was safe to walk... Just like Satan covers things that are harmful, making them look okay and not that bad. When really what is underneath is INEVITABLE to MAKE you fall. Not just slip with a few close calls but laying in the cold snow with the wind knocked out of you wondering, "What just happened!" When we don't fix those falls right away we end up on the other side of the road facing the direction we just came. Feeling either scared, abandoned, angry or frustrated.
   I know we have a loving Heavenly Father who has provided a perfect path to follow. Doesn't mean there won't be times we slip and fall, but that we get up, brush ourselves off and learn from the past.