This past week with 9/11 and all the other events that have occurred not only in this country but around the world, I have had time to reflect upon things that I know, things that I believe, and reevaluate why I am doing the things that I do. I think taking time to think about this, and the trajectory of your life is important once in a while.

First, things I know and believe:

• I know that God lives, that He is our Father in Heaven, that He loves us, and that we are His work and glory.
• I know that Jesus Christ lives, that He came, He lived, He died, and He was resurrected. That His whole purpose is to help us come back to our Heavenly Father and that He loves us.
• I know that family is central to God’s plan, and central to a stable society and that it has been under attack for a very long time. But I know that it’s not obsolete, and that family is the best way to raise and teach children.
• I know that Satan is real, that he doesn’t like any of us, and that his goal is to make all men miserable like him.
• I know that the purpose of being here on earth is to gain a physical body, and then to be tested. We cannot grow, learn, progress, without trials and challenges, we should expect them, we should embrace them, and we should work through them.
• I know that challenges and trials do not mean God isn’t real, or doesn’t love us. We were sent here to see if, through the trials, challenges and temptations we face, we will still be true to God, true to our Savior. It’s not a test if it’s not hard sometimes. We don’t learn and grow without challenges and struggles.
• I know that Jesus Christ has already overcome the world, and that as I turn to Him, He will help me navigate through my challenges. They won’t be removed, I will just have understanding and strength to move forward.

Years ago I was in a fireside for youth when I heard this quote. It was a little handout we got, and I have tried to live my life by this little quote ever since. I have shared it before, but I think it deserves another share. Online it sometimes reads a little different, but it’s the same basic idea. It is a quote by Mother Teresa:

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;

              Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

              Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

              Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

              Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

              Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

              Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

              Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may just never be enough;

              Give the world the best you have anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it’s all between you and God;

              It was never between you and them anyway.

I am not perfect at living this, but I do try to be this way as much as possible and I can see some improvement over the years. We are all human beings. We are all God’s children. There are many who objectify others in different ways, but you don’t have to be one of those people. I would encourage you (and continue to work myself) to be more kind, more patient, more willing to listen even if you don’t agree. We are all just trying to do what we think is right. Defend where needed, but not to be superior. Defend truth, real truth, not opinion, it does exist.

Lastly, My painting from this week. I believe in the United States of America. I believe it is founded on correct principles. I am not saying there aren’t faults, we are human, but I believe in freedom and I will defend those rights and freedoms, starting with the Bill of Rights and the Constitution of the United States.